Lovely Shades of Green

Jade Anise

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-08:00

I mean...really...could you be any CUTER girl?
Love,
Mommy <3

Jade. Self portrait. Pretty.

2012-01-14T06:17:00.001-08:00

2012-01-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Hazel Rei is heading out to her first girl scout meeting as a daisy!!

Yay!

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I learned to look at the sky and pray...

2012-01-03T10:32:00.001-08:00

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My skirt.

2011-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

I made a skirt. Awhile ago. But I was too shy to wear it. I don't know why. I feel self conscious when I wear things I make. I fear they will fall apart and I will be left ~~naked~~ blushing. Well, I decided to wear this skirt on Thanksgiving this year with my boots and decided to just go with it, and to be ME (all simple and homemade...who cares)!! I really loved this fabric when I saw it because it reminded me of a Van Gogh painting. It is a simple skirt with an elastic waist!

Love,

Mon <3

Maxfield Wants..

2011-12-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Well maybe mommy does...but I'm sure he would like them too!!!

I want...

2011-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

From sailonbaby on Etsy. So cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Mon

Leggings

2011-11-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to try to sew leggings for the girls, and finally did! I found this tutorial and gave it a shot. They are unbelievably easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If my sewing machine wasn't acting up it wouldn't have taken more than twenty minutes or so! Hazel has demanded more, so I should be very busy in the near future :)

Happy to be sewing again, let's just hope and pray my sewing machine begins to behave herself!!

Love,

Mon

Baked Oatmeal

2011-10-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

There are those mornings when you need a "big warm hug", in the form of a comforting breakfast and for me, today was such a day. I have tried baked oatmeal before and didn't have much success, but was excited to find a simple recipe that was quite lovely. Everyone was fed & happy! The oatmeal was quite delicious!!!

I snapped a pic of my breakfasts. My baked oatmeal with cherries, homemade bread with butter & honey, and coffee. The girls giggled to one another and said "She's taking pictures of her breakfast" (accompanied with a "hee hee hee") They think I am insane :)

Love,

Mon

Things I'm in love with...

2011-10-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

We are reading this book as part of our literature lessons and we love the stories so very much (I probably love them the most, the old English, the witty stories, the lessons you learn...oh I do heart them)

and we love this one as well...

Having a delightful time over here ;)

Apple Pie

2011-10-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

We recently picked a WHOLE LOT OF APPLES!!! I made a pie with some of them that came out really delicious. I usually like to use this recipe that has almond flour in it, suggested by a dear sister (who is a fabulous cook/baker), but I was out of almond flour. I instead found this recipe, and used organic butter and organic vegetable shortening...while it came out nicely I think I will stick with all butter in the future. To be honest, I did eat the majority of the pie, as I have discovered my girls are not really pie people and my husband is never home. Mind you, I always ate one slice at a time (in a single day), I promise. Who says you can't drown your sorrows in pie?!?! Who says? Just Kidding, but really....I do love pie.

Lots, and Lots of love,

Mon

Learning

2011-10-15T11:49:00.001-07:00

I bought the cutest kid knitting needles for Hazel. Not sure if she has the coordination to fully knit quite yet but we are working on it together. I cast on for her, of course, but she seems to be catching on. With her personality, she wants to finish it right away so explaining to her that knitting takes time has been interesting. We are working on a Barbie blanket!! A friend at work said that she would knit Barbie blankets for her girls, and I thought with it being Fall and all, they might appreciate some warmth. :) I figure a few minutes now and then won't burn her out, and I'm mostly holding the needles and having her loop them through. It is kind of stressful on my part, not gonna lie, but it is teaching me patience!!!

Lots of love,

Mon
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An artist in the making.

2011-10-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

We recently visited an art museum. An unconventional little field trip on a Sunday. Yes, a Sunday!!! One of our favorite little art museums has a deal where admission is free from 9-12 pm on Sunday! So we went to an early service at church and visited the museum after. I was alone with the three kids, so I was so apprehensive, however all was well! We had fun admiring art and even going on a little nature walk!!! During our visit, we made our way through the still life/portrait section. I explained what that term meant, and Hazel listened intently. You see, Hazel Rei loves art!!! She loves art of all types, coloring, painting, drawing, etc!!!! She was completely in her element, and loved every minute! So later that day, I noticed that Hazel had done this...

We talked about it, and Hazel explained how she had done "portraits" of her two favorite dolls!!! How amazingly cute is this???????????? <3

Love,

Mon

Goat Cheese I love you!

2011-10-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CHIVES!!!!!!!!!!! HOLLLLLER.

This was the day that goat cheese completely rocked my existence. I've always know that I liked goat cheese, who doesn't???? It is wonderful, creamy, and delicious. But this recipe solidified why! I mean they were amazing. Please try them. You will not be disappointed. We served them with our soup for dinner, and we all loved them!!!

Love,

Monica (aka bread freak)

Wishful Thinking

2011-09-25T08:53:00.001-07:00

Anticipating Fall....hoping for brisk weather wrapped up in sweaters and wearing my beloved boots...only to be left hot and cursing the lingering summer. Oh bother.
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It starts with bacon.

2011-09-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

(Sorry, my photos are not always the best. Hooray for bad lighting, but they were delicious. I promise )

So, my five year old daughter seriously loves bacon. Like a lot! She always wants it and suggested that we have BACON for dinner one day a couple of weeks ago. I don't mind bacon (in moderation and I usually don't eat it...how funny), I prefer the uncured and more natural types, and I had some so I thought I'd incorporate it into our evening meal. We also had corn in our fridge, sweet-lovely-local-fresh corn so my first thoughts were revolving more along the corn chowder type recipes. I stumbled across a recipe for corn pancakes on my most fav food blog. So I thought I would go with that, and make it like a savory, evening, type breakfast thing. So I made home fries, like of the roasted variety with onions, and green peppers, and then cooked the bacon....the main ingredient of course. These pancakes were so delicious! I urge you to try them...please!! They are the ultimate comfort food, slathered with fresh organic butter and maple syrup.

Enjoy!
Love,
Mon

Jade's poor baby doll.

2011-09-20T13:21:00.001-07:00

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Baby lion wearing.

2011-09-20T13:19:00.001-07:00

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2011-09-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

peach cake

2011-09-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Let me first preface this post by exclaiming vehemently that I AM NOT A GREAT CAKE MAKER!!! Furthermore, I am NOT A GREAT CAKE DECORATOR EITHER! So there, I got that out. Now you will understand why the cake I made for Joe looked like a nursery school student slathered frosting all over it with their fingers! I try though, I have this thing about store bought cakes...while they may look all put together and stuff, I feel a homemade cake is so much more meaningful! I hope to get better at it!!! The family and I went out to pick peaches one afternoon, which was lots and lots of fun, and since Joe's birthday rolled around the same time and he loves peaches, I decided to make him a peach cake. Well, actually I decided to make him peach cupcakes with this recipe found here! I absolutely love the blog the recipe comes from, it is truly a favorite. Anyhow, when I made a batch of the cupcakes, I decided to bake off the rest of the batter in this super cute, teeny, tiny little cake pan I bought for Hazel's first birthday cake. I had planned to deviate from the cupcake recipe, and make a marscarpone frosting, which I found...here. While, I do indeed need a cake decorating lesson, I thought I'd share because the cake was super delicious!!!! Joe was happy!!! In the future, perhaps I will make the cake ahead of time, so that I may have time to decorate it without a crying 6 month old, and fighting 3 and 5 year olds (and a hot and humid house, an enemy of frosting...so I've discovered) to contend with...perhaps!!!!

(the birthday boy with his cupcake)

Love,

Mon

2011-08-31T18:41:00.000-07:00

It is sure going to be hard to say goodbye to fresh tomatoes from our garden. As summer is drawing to a close, it is just a fact of life. That is one thing I will look forward to next spring. Now, looking forward to pumpkins, fires, knitting, baking, and other lovely fall activities.

love,

mon <3

cucumbers

2011-07-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

We grew that.

We were able to grown a couple of cucumbers so far. They have been yummy! The kids love to eat them as a snack. The excessive heat hasn't helped our garden much...also the fact that I unknowingly planted all tiny tomatoes...but it has been fun!!! Making salsa from your own tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro is nice!! YAY for vegetable gardens.

Love,

Mon

How you know your raising a hippie.

2011-07-23T13:45:00.001-07:00

When your five year old uses the term "essential oils" in a sentence.
Love it
<3

Blessings.

2011-06-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

A very sweet friend allowed us to partake in her CSA share for the week since she and her family were going out of town. I was so excited since we've thought about buying a share ourselves. I was so happy to see the beautiful produce we received and cannot wait to incorporate them into our meals. Can't wait to share what we come up with!!! Thank you friend for blessing us this week!!!!

Love,

Mon

Converse

2011-06-07T15:47:00.001-07:00

Mommy & Baby! <3

2011-06-06T00:10:00.001-07:00

Spelt Bread

2011-06-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

My new love <3

Spelt Flour!!! I use it to make my bread now. This blog should be renamed, FAT GIRL ADDICTED TO CARBS...PLEASE HELP, or something along those lines. Because yes this is another 'bread' post! I absolutely love bread. I heart bread, way, way, way, more than desserts or even chocolate. This does not help my current weight situation but oh well. I thought I would share my beloved spelt bread. Yes, I heart it so. It is so rich, so hearty and nutty, it is absolutely wonderful. I use the basic bread recipe that I always use but use whole spelt flower instead. My recipe is as follows:

1 cup warm water

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup milk

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

2 1/2 cups whole Spelt flour

1 cup all purpose flour (I use the King Arthur, unbleached, unbromated kind)

I start by pouring the 1 cup of warm water in my kitchen aid and sprinkle the yeast on top. I leave it there for 5 minutes. After the five minutes I add the oil, honey, milk, and salt and mix it. I then add all my flour and switch to the dough hook. I knead the dough for 6 minutes. I then add more flour as needed to get it to the correct consistency. Enough so the dough is slightly firm and can be made into a compact tight ball. I then place it in a large bowl with a drizzle of olive oil on the bottom, cover it with plastic wrap and leave it alone for 1 hour. At the end of that hour I take the dough and roll out to a rectangular shape and roll into a loaf shape. I then place it in my oiled loaf pan, cover and let it rise for another 30-60 min. I bake @ 350 for 20 minutes uncovered, then 15 min covered with foil, and 5 additional minutes after I brush it with either butter or olive oil. I then remove it from the pan after allowing it to cool for a few minutes then let it cool for a bit more before I slice and devour it. Try making it, you will be like me and never go down that "bread" aisle at the grocery store again!!!!!!!

I have found that with my new Spelt recipe I do not need to add gluten, which I have in the past when using whole wheat flour. I also found that it rises so much quicker than wheat flour so I need to watch it a little more so it doesn't flatten. Read more about the benefits of Spelt here.

Here is my beloved bread...

It goes so lovely with...

and....

Love,

Mon <3

Intriguing

2011-06-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Flower Essences.....

For me...
White Chestnut: "For those who cannot prevent thoughts, ideas, arguments which they do not desire from entering their minds. Usually at such times when the interest of the moment is not strong enough to keep the mind full. Thoughts which worry and still remain, or if for a time thrown out, will return. They seem to circle round and round and cause mental torture. The presence of such unpleasant thoughts drives out peace and interferes with being able to think only of the work or pleasure of the day." - Dr. Edward Bach

Aspen: "Vague unknown fears, for which there can be given no explanation, no reason. It is a terror that something awful is going to happen even though it is unclear what exactly. These vague inexplicable fears may haunt by night or day. Sufferers may often be afraid to tell their trouble to others." - Dr. Edward Bach

YOU?

2011-06-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ballet, then burgers!
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The Ballet.

2011-06-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

Dad's surprise for the little girls...a night at the ballet. <3
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Beautiful Weather.

2011-05-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

Spending the day fishing. <3
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dinner rolls.

2011-04-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight I needed a little something to round off our dinner. Since I do indeed have my hands very full with three small children (one very, very, very small) I searched online for an easy and quick recipe. I found a recipe that seemed to fill my criteria. I didn't use shortening but opted for butter, and used white whole wheat flour. When it was all mixed I was a bit put off by how goopy it was....but I just went with it. I baked them in muffin tins and was actually surprised at how yummy they were. Quick, easy, and simple..just how I like things!!! The girls loved them!!! Yay for rolls!!

Oats, Oats. Oats!

2011-04-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

(No those aren't hockey pucks, they are my attempt at a "healthier cookie")

I mentioned to my chef husband that I wanted to make a healthy oatmeal cookie...and he of course rolled his eyes and said "cookies shouldn't be healthy". Since I am needing to lose about a zillion lbs, and occasionally have a sweet tooth I knew I needed something that would help my situation and that I could give the kids without feeling too bad. I found this recipe online and decided to give it a shot. I added golden raisins, dates, and almonds to my version of this recipe...and I split up the honey ratio in half with applesauce. I agree with the Chef, this isn't quite a cookie, although it is mostly healthy. If you want a decadent, buttery cookie, well this is not it. Well what is it then? I agree with the recipe description it is almost a supplement. It has healthy oats and nuts in it! I know Joe will not come close to ever putting one of my cookies in his mouth...but the outcome with the girls is:

Hazel-Loved them!

Jade-Ate half of her cookie!

Mom-Loved them!

Love,

Mon

Somewhere only we know.

2011-03-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Our new little spot, where we can go...so lovely...feels like it is somewhere only we know even though it is not! We are now members of Longwood Gardens, which is a gorgeous place of flowers, plants, and peace. Looking forward to spending lots and lots of time there in the coming months. While it is still rather chilly, it is nice to spend time in the the vast indoor gardens and pretend it is nice and warm. Soon it will be!!

School Chair.

2011-02-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

The things you find in your basement that you have long forgotten and can be very useful!
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French Bread

2011-02-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

We are planning to have BLT's for dinner so I made some french loaves. This will be special BLT's with special tomatoes, special bacon, and now extra special fresh bread. This recipe is so easy, if you love bread as much as I do, please try it.
Love,
Mon
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Princess hair.

2011-02-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

I'm not good at "hair". Just look at my hair :) Hazel Rei (err I mean princess Hazel Rei) requested princess hair. She interpreted her vision in great detail. When I say great detail, I mean GREAT detail. She was happy! It amazes me how particular little girls are, especially this one! So I'm continuing to work on my hair skills! Have a beautiful Tuesday!
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Cookies!!!

2011-01-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is the second day of what appears to be a baking streak. Yesterday I made a peach pie after purchasing a large amount of peaches at a wholesale produce store. I have eaten a lot of pie since yesterday. I am ashamed :( So I have no idea why I had the desire to bake again today. I looked up a recipe for almond cookies since I love almonds!!! <3 I also have a jar of almond butter and was super excited to find a recipe that incorporated almond butter and maple syrup...double, double yummmmmmmm!!!!!

Maple Almond Butter Cookies

I used this recipe but changed it up a tiny bit.

1/2 cup natural almond butter

1/2 cup maple syrup

3 tablespoons melted butter (the recipe online used vegetable oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup unbleached pastry flour (the recipe online used whole wheat pastry flour which I did not have on hand)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped almonds

I mixed the almond butter, maple syrup, butter, and vanilla extract in the kitchenaid. In a separate bowl I mixed the dry ingredients. I gradually added the dry ingredients to the almond mixture, then added the chopped almonds. I baked them at 350 for about 10 minutes.

The result = delicious!!!!! The house smelled beautifully, you would not believe!!! The girls loved them and I suggest if you love maple syrup and almond butter as I do...try it out.

Lots of love,
Mon <3

Montgomery burger night!

2011-01-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Gourmet burgers we are calling them. I felt ambitious so I decided to try to make buns. I am somewhat addicted and fascinated by bread making. The idea of flour, water, yeast etc combining for wonderfully delicious results makes me happy. Anyhow, back to the brioche buns. As you can see, my sizing is off. Maybe they don't look gorgeous and perfect, but they are really good!! I was nervous and ended up making a variety of sized buns from the big momma on the right to the normal sized ones on the left. I hope they will be prettier next time but I am happy! For my first shot...not bad. I did have some issues with the recipe. For some reason I had to add more milk. I think it was ok though. Mmmmmm I <3 bread! Now for the burger feast!

Love,
Mon

headband.

2011-01-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

I made Hazel Rei a little headband that she loves to wear like a hippie. She wanted a flower on it so I tried my hand at knitting a rose. It mostly came out like a ball but it could be the yarn was maybe a little too thick! It was a fun & super easy project! Hazel loves it!

I also made Jade one too, except made a little bow.

Love,
Mon

I love...

2010-12-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

How my recent loaf of bread came out with these really cool curled ends.

And, I learned something. I ran out of wheat bread flour and decided to visit our local, cute, and funky organic market. I usually use another brand of flour, but decided to switch things up this time and give their flour a try. I noticed the flour was in the refrigerator, which seemed interesting to me. What is awesome about this grocery store is that the employees love for you to ask them questions. So I asked...."why is the flour in the fridge?" I was told that it preserves the nutrients in the flour longer and should be stored in the refrigerator. So now I have my wheat bread flour in our fridge.

You learn something new everyday.

Love,

MON

Guess what Joanne.....

2010-11-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

This little insignificant blog began as a way to show things I like to my dearest friend Joanne. Since we live so very far away (many, many states away) it's hard to show your friend cute things you've seen or cool things we did, so I began this blog. You see, I've known Joanne more than 1/2 of my life and have more in common with her than nearly any other human being...wheatgrass, tea, boots, knitting, and the list can go on and on. She is fabulous and I love her!

So Joanne, you know my obsession has been these...

mostly because you first told me about Frye boots and I finally own my first pair NOW (thanks to momma for bday $, and a little of my own). Well, today I was drowning my sorrows at the Rack (because it has been that kind of week so far and it's only Tues), when I saw this little denim jacket I got all "country" and needed it. It was 60% off and came out to $9. Sure I'm nearing my 3rd trimester of pregnancy but it fits above my belly quite nicely.

OH, and I'm addicted to buying jeggings so I of course picked up another pair :) And that is how dear friends communicate about important, very important things from thousands of miles away!

Love you,

MON

Cutie

2010-11-29T05:40:00.000-08:00

We were blessed to have a surprise baby shower last week. We were overwhelmed with love and blessings. Our hostess, and fabulous friend, made us homemade apple sauce and just packaged them so adorably, I just had to share a picture. The girls and I are thoroughly enjoying the applesauce and dread the day when we run out! Liz-we need more <3

Love,

Mon :)

Hooray for cheap furniture!

2010-11-24T20:33:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I wish I had designer furniture. You know the kind that you pick from a catalog or well lit and cozy showroom but alas we obtain most of our furniture from yard sales or even discards on the side of the road. I believe this table and four chairs cost us a total of $20. There is a beauty in it! In it can be refinishing to make something all yours. Such is the case with our dining room table. This is the second time I replaced the chair covers...the first time I replaced the padding as well. This time I opted for a creamy vinyl type fabric with tiny amber colored dots on it. It is quite fun to change the look of your dining room and it is so easy. All one needs is:

1) Fabric of your choice.
2) Padding for a comfy place to enjoy your dinner.
3) A cordless screwdriver. For removing the seat and putting it back on.
4) Staple gun & staples (my favorite!).

I'm sure this will not be the last time I will replace the fabric, but at least this time they should be easier to clean!
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Cute

2010-11-24T18:25:00.000-08:00

Cute addition to our home. From Joe's grandmother who recently passed away. It will be a lovely reminder of her everyday.
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2010-11-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

While visiting an art museum today, I was introduced to Trompe l'Oeil art. It was amazing. I snapped a photo of this little piece because I like it. I was then scolded and told that photos were not allowed.
<3

????

2010-09-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Considering that my drink of choice the last couple of days has been sprite (with the major ingredient being high fructose corn syrup) it should be no surprise that I had to physically restrain myself from giving in to a ramen craving! High Fructose Corn Syrup + MSG = yummy. No not really. God help me.

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2010-08-29T15:52:00.001-07:00

"Our whole being...is one vast need...crying out for Him who can untie things that are now knotted together and tie up things that are still dangling loose." - C.S. Lewis

Farm Eggs

2010-08-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

The eggs were still warm when farmer Tim handed them to me. I doubled my order because the girls and I are making a tres leches cake for Daddy! We also plan to bake cookies this weekend. These eggs are seriously THE best eggs I have ever had...no going back to grocery store eggs again! They literally went from the farmers hands to me....and I love it!
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Bread!

2010-08-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

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I have been making bread for some time. I have been getting tired of my standard wheat loaf...and have really wanted to try a French bread recipe. I found one, but while on the same site I noticed a no knead recipe and I was a bit intrigued. The dough needs to rest for about 12-20 hours, and is serious so easy...so so so incredibly EASY! I baked it in our Le Creuset, and it came out really pretty!!!!!!!

Love,
MON

Promises

2010-08-25T15:26:00.001-07:00

He heals the Brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
<3

Heart, Heart, Heart!

2010-08-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Leg Warmers

2010-08-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

I came across a Do-It-Yourself knitting kit at TJ Maxx, which was only $3 and included three balls of yarn. So I bought it. The kit comes with instructions + supplies on how to knit your very own leg warmers. So yes, I shall attempt this project. I have been sick on and off lately and really need to start (or finish a few lingering projects). Not sure if I will even wear these leg warmers but I'm sure in the dead of winter my legs will need some warmth!

Cast Iron Cooking

2010-08-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

On our first camping trip, Joe packed one of his cast iron pans. It was like a foreign object to me. I had never really used anything like it (not that I used anything at all....meaning I did not cook). After our trip the cast iron pan was just packed away with our camping stuff. Coming across it I noticed they were very rusty, and seemed like trash.

I had recently been reading about the benefits of cast iron cooking compared to other pots (namely of the non-stick variety) and pans. The only cast iron type pot we have is our trusty Le Creuset, that we adore and use all the time. Only after doing some more research I noticed the pans I wanted were strangely similar to the three pans we already had, only without the rust that accumulated on them. I asked Joe for a set for Christmas, and had my eye on the Lodge Cast Iron products. My dear husband who is always looking to save some cash, urged me that he could re-season our pans and they would be just like the ones I wanted, maybe even better! So Joe cleaned the three pans we had, and rubbed them with oil, placed them in the oven on a very low setting...this seasons them and seals in the oil so your food won't stick. Once he was done, they were gorgeous! I have been using them for all three meals since. They are different to clean than other pans, but once you get the hang of it, they are no problem. They add so much flavor to our food, and are really great! So I urge you to go replace your pans with cast iron! You will love them! We recently added a dutch oven to our collection, and I am now wanting the casserole dish! I don't even think about my other pots and pans anymore :)

2010-07-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm always slightly in everyone else's conversations. I don't know why. I guess I'm nosey. I don't know exactly where it comes from. I just observe more of what's going on around me than most people. So I was walking. I saw two older individuals. Male & Female. Presumably married, don't know for sure. I heard the man say to the woman, "Let's go to our bench!” "Our bench!!!!" I thought, HUH! Then they were gone. I walked a bit, and a bit later, I stumbled upon those two, at their bench! Yes, because I am nosey and always slightly in everyone else's business, I snapped a photo. I thought it was beautiful. The two and their bench.

My thoughts.

2010-07-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

1. Trust no one.

2. Our budget for a new home is at the "poverty line"...that's awesome.

3. I miss people that knew and loved Monica Lee...she was pretty awesome.

4. I miss ocean breezes and salty skin.

5. I miss my mom.

6. Sometimes the aching in my heart is unbearable.

7. Nobody is perfect and my bubble has burst.

8. Who get's married on the 4th of July? Isn't that a tad bit pretentious and rude to the U.S.A.?

9. Why do people persist, when you have voiced that you are at your limit. Then you are the one who is wrong because you blew up. Oh darn emotions.

10. I wonder if it is 96 degrees in California right now?

11. I need a nap.

12. Why are polly pocket clothes so hard to put on....I do not <3 Polly Pocket.

13. If I could be anywhere but here, I would.

14. Green tea is amazing. Thank God for Green tea + Bob Marley at Starbucks today. Otherwise I would not have survived.

15. alone.

16. There are cheeseballs....so I might just survive.

17. California <3

18. I wish I knew how to spell.

19. I have excelled at everything, job, school...but not this...why?

20. I like to swim, I wish I could go swimming.

2010-07-03T20:19:00.001-07:00

The most beautiful days are spent gazing upon dragonflies!

Love,

MON

2010-06-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

New additions to my garden...sweet gnomes. I think Jade named one Kurt. Hazel has yet to name the other little guy. The one in yellow is cheekie and is showing his bum. I'm feeling Brittish today, and I have no idea why. Also, a cutie wild mushrom growing in our grass!

2010-06-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Murals

2010-06-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

I never really noticed that our town has a few very lovely murals! This past week while walking through our town, we spotted a couple. I snapped the first one of Jade!

Photo by http://graceliza.wordpress.com/

Love,
MON

I pulled it off!!!!!!

2010-05-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

I made truly yummy, and utterly delicous pancakes!!!!!!!! I like to mix breakfast up for the family, so this morning I thought I would make pancakes. So I found a recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg

1 cup flour

3/4 cup milk ( I usually add a bit more to my desired consistency)

2 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoon sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Only I made a few tweaks to the recipe. I had some unbleached pastry flour so I decided to use that. I also used I Tablespoon of pure 100% maple syrup instead of the sugar. I then added 2 Tablespoons of butter instead of the oil! Oh, and one more thing: I used raw milk since that is what we had this morning. The result: FABULOUS!

A perfect light consistency, and yummy butteriness!!!!!! I only had my phone so the picture is not all that fabulous...but the pancakes were great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

MON <3

Lunar Moth

2010-05-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

A Lunar Moth found a temporary home on our house. It was our little guest for a few days, then it moved on. We believe it was waiting out the rain. I have never in my life seen such a moth. Crazy!!!!!!!

Love,

MON

Strawberry Cupcakes

2010-05-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

I made strawberry cupcakes for Hazel's birthday playdate. They came out yummy, so I thought I would share. In retrospect, I did not add the two egg whites in the recipe (guess I was a bit preoccupied and didn't notice that ingredient...oops), now that I read it through. Guess what? They came out ok. I used raw sugar, and unbleached cake flour. A simple vanilla frosting recipe later, and we had strawberry cupcakes for 6 kids! Very simple! Very yummy! Try it!

Love,

MON

2010-05-04T20:44:00.001-07:00

It is as if a British Cherub was singing to me...I love it!

Wardrobe Malfunction

2010-05-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

2010-04-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Our 7th Anniversary date, as documented by my blackberry.

Rain :)

2010-04-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Is it bad that I am glad it is raining? I love sunshine so much!! What is wrong with me? Well, I am happy to maybe get a chance to wear my new rainboots. I like them <3

And because Jade was just dying to be in my shots....here is a scruffy little baby face, complete with oatmeal smeared all over it :)

love,

monica <3

Breakfast

2010-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Jade loves breakfast. From the moment she opens her eyes, the first word on her lips is "breffus!" I am learning to enjoy breakfast as well. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love to eat. It's just sometimes I get caught up with the morning and the next thing I know....it's lunch!!! So here's to Jade and breakfast!

2010-04-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

It was a day filled with Farmer's Markets, a nice walk, and a quaint little cookie shop. I was overjoyed to find that they sell boba. So I had a almond boba and we nibbled on gourmet cookies.

And, thanks to a cute little book at the cookie shop...I now need a rain barrel.

<3
Mon :)

Eat Nutritious Snacks

2010-04-20T20:25:00.001-07:00

2010-04-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

We were so surpised by beautiful flowers! We had no idea they were even there because we moved in last fall. It was as if one day, they just popped up out of nowhere. We were so happy! Each day I have to guard these beautiful ladies from prying little hands that want to pick and destroy.

Making Wishes

2010-04-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

Psalm 25:1

2010-04-14T07:19:00.001-07:00

I like the Country!

2010-04-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Whenever you get the chance, dip your feet in a cool stream. It will make you feel totally alive!

Renee

2010-04-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Joe and his Mom, Renee. I love Renee so much, she is not only my mother-in-law but a, sister in Christ, and a friend. She has always accepted me, from day one and that means a lot to me. I never had to work for her favor, she just loved me. I treasure our relationship and love her dearly.

Love,

MON

Happy...

2010-04-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

...looking at the flower blossoms on trees.

Love,

Mon

little dresses

2010-04-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

I made this dress last year for Hazel. Only, I never finished it. I procrastinated sewing the straps, and sooner or later so much time had past that it was 20 degrees and deep into winter when I even gave it another thought. So Jade has inherited this little dress!! She looks super cute in it. I can't wait to make tons more ;)

Love,
mon

Blossoms

2010-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Warm Nights.

2010-04-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

We sat on a concrete slab overlooking the harbor, sun kissed and happy. Joe shucked oysters; we ate fresh shrimp, catfish, and hushpuppies and drank sweet iced tea. We gazed upon the beautiful sky and stars and delighted in the warm evening free of sweaters and scarves. We were star struck to see marine one fly by and found ourselves pointing at the sky. It was the kind of evening that seems to last forever and you are happy because you want it to never end.

Bagels in Connecticut

2010-04-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Love,

Tea.

2010-04-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs a little tea bag tote.

Love,
Mon

Doors

2010-04-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

I wish this was my front door. They don't make cool front doors like this anymore.

Bread

2010-03-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

I really liked this recipe, the bread is really tasty. I have to work on how I shape my bread, as you can see in the picture. Also, I am using a silicone loaf pan. I think that a metal one would help with the shape of the bread. I feel encouraged because, this is something that is important to me and I can see progress. It is better than the first loaf I made. I like this recipe too, it doesn't have any sugar just honey. I want to live my life in a simple way...so I like that his bread has very few ingredients!!!

Love,

Mon

wild, crazy nights!

2010-03-25T19:17:00.001-07:00

making bread. if my endeavor is successful I will post pics.

<3
Mon

Blossoms

2010-03-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lunch

2010-03-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

It's nice to eat a turkey sandwich with warm bread that you just made. I tried out a recipe for wheat bread and I think my first shot went well. I chose to do the 100% whole wheat version with some amazing wheat dough that is merely ground wheat berries, nothing added! I feel as if it will get better the more loaves I make!

Love,

Mon

Spring Equinox

2010-03-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Taken at 1:32 pm Eastern time; while on the phone with a dear friend in Los Angeles at 10:32 am.

I took a deep breath. The kind of deep breath you take when you know you have a long lonely road ahead of you. Today was going to be that kind of day. I answered the phone and a cheerful and familiar voice was on the other end of the phone. "It's the Spring Equinox at 1:32 pm your time, and 10:32 am my time!". So we planned to take a picture at that moment; the moment when spring begins. At that instant I felt cheerful and instantly connected to another adult human being. Who needs tons and tons of friends when you have those that you can share such amazing moments with! I count down the moments till we can take pictures of old barns and drink wheatgrass and date shakes together, my sweet friend!

Happy Spring!

Wheatgrass

2010-03-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

Progress: Day 3 of watering my little sprouts! Each day I look forward to watering my sprouts, and today I was so surprised at how much they have grown!

A land flowing with milk and honey....

2010-03-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

Raw Honey

Raw Organic Milk

Olive Loaf

Oyster Mushrooms

Pom Pom Mushroom-The Farmer let us have one to try. They are supposed to be simply divine!

Natural Remedy

2010-03-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

I'm sick. I'm almost positive I will eventually have bronchitis. I cannot even get a cough without my lungs lovingly embracing bronchitis. I hate it. I was researching what I could do naturally to boost my immune system to avoid getting sicker. I found some great suggestions, ones I just might try. The Imagery technique below...IDK. It made me laugh, so I just thought I would share. I don't think I will be trying this one!

Imagery

"In your mind, see yourself as a tiny person who can go on a trip down into your lungs. On this journey, you carry a bucket and a special backpack that holds all of the supplies you need to clean up your respiratory system. Take in a deep breath and begin your trip, writes Barbara Dossey, R.N., co-author of Rituals of Healing: Using Imagery for Health and Wellness. Move with the cool air through your nose, down the back of your throat and into the windpipe. Here, two large airways branch off to the left and right. Choose one of the airways and follow it down into your lungs.

Notice the condition of the walls of your breathing passages. If you see inflammation, redness or roughness, imagine painting those walls with a cool, relaxing blue-green solution. If you see any airways that are constricted, caress the surrounding muscles, so they’ll relax. If you find mucus or phlegm, mop it up with a sponge and squeeze it into the bucket you are carrying with you. As your journey ends and you retrace your steps through your respiratory system, feel your body clear any remaining phlegm from your throat with a gentle cough. Feel a sensation of warmth and relaxation in your chest.

Dossey says to practice this imagery twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time until the condition clears"

Love,
MON

My new obssession

2010-03-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

I have been juicing quite steadily for the past couple of weeks. My new obsession is a concoction of the following veggies/fruits:

3 organic carrots

1 organic apple (mostly fuji or granny smith)

1/4 organic cucumber

3 stalks of organic celery

1/2 rind of organic lemon

organic wheat grass

The lemon rind is new, and it goes deliciously with the cucumber. This recipe works really well, it has an amazingly fresh flavor. The wheat grass is new for me. I just purchased a small container of it, and it seems tricky to juice so I am working on it. I would also love to grow my own, because it can be quite costly. I was amazed to discover just how wonderful wheatgrass is for you!!!!!!!! I was also amazed at how energized I felt, it felt amazing....way better than a cup of coffee or shot of espresso! I am hooked!

much love,

MON

Brownies

2010-02-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

Try this Recipe for brownies, they are amazing. While my version might not be the prettiest brownie on the block, I knew they where good when Joe ate four and has had one each night since I made them. I nibbled on one, gazing upon my dear husband with utter contempt, thinking of what would happen to me if I EVER ate four brownies at once. If you are a fan of dark chocolate, you will be a fan of these brownies. Perfect with a glass of milk!!! Enjoy :)

Love,

MON

Winter Farmer's Market

2010-02-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

No produce, but I did find these lovely things. Crimini Mushrooms & Goat's milk yogurt.

I also stopped by the farm for fresh milk & eggs. I snapped a photo of the little refrigerated shed where we pick up our beloved milk and eggs. I also got the chance to chat with the farmer, he was lovely!

Love,

Mon

Pizza Night

2010-02-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

I found a pizza recipe that I absolutely love and thought I would share. It was quite easy to make, it just takes about 2 hours to let the dough rise, but it was well worth the wait. I managed to make my own sauce with whole canned tomatoes & spices; we used up left over vegetables in the fridge, and had a quite lovely dinner. Really! I was going to take a picture of it but we were all so HUNGRY that I didn't get a chance. One other thing I did was substitute 1/2 of the flour with wheat flour (an easy compromise between Joe and me)...and it was delicious. Try it! You don't have to pay so much for pizza, and it is a million times healthier!!!!!!!!!

Homemade Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

Pizza Dough: Makes enough dough for two 10-12 inch pizzas

1 1/2 cups warm water (105°F-115°F)

1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast (check the expiration date on the package)

3 1/2 cups bread flour (can use all-purpose but bread flour will give you a crisper crust)

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sugar

Photo & recipe from Simply Recipes

Acorns

2010-02-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

I reached in my pocket, and found two small acorns. It kind of made my day. Apparently I need lotion too, on my poor, dry, wintery hands :)

Love,

Mon

Fabulousnesssssssssss

2010-02-12T22:00:00.001-08:00

Burdens.

2010-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

My little house is comforting, millions of miles away, surrounded by snow. The thought of being snowed in is a nice comforting thought.

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 6:2

Holly Homemade

2010-01-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

I looked at myself next to the woman beside me at church. She had her designer purse, it was beautiful. I had my handmade tote. She had a designer coat, it was lovely. I had my handmade scarf. So yeah, sometimes I feel a little holly homemade...but the truth is that I love making things, and as I get better at it, my look will improve. Another truth: I am a funky hippie at heart <3

Our local library had a really great knitting book. The images were lovely, I long to be good enough to recreate such lovely pieces....maybe someday. Now it was just good to have some coffee and look at a book of beautiful things.

Here are a few of my favs...

This bag is made with heavy kitchen twine that you knit with...interesting!

treats

2010-01-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Whoopie Pie & raw milk from a local farm :)

Tortillas

2010-01-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my lovely Corynne I am on a mission to make my own tortillas. I am working on improving them with each batch I try. Today we tried a new recipe and thought they came out good. It was weird that the recipe called for milk...hmmm. Happy Tortilla making, lovelies.

Love,
Mon