Anniversary Tree 2013

Some of us are growing, some of us have a few more grey hairs, one of us is substantially smaller, thanks to the long illness of last winter, but all of us are more connected, more in love with each other, and can't imagine a better little family to be blessed with.

To read more about our Anniversary Tree, click here.

Last Day for Christmas in October Sale

Today is the last day to get in on my Christmas in October Sale! Hurry over to my etsy shop and get stocked up for winter! I'll be shutting it down before I head to bed tonight (that's around 9:30 Pacific Coast Time).

Making Cider

Just a few miles down the road from us, where the view is wide and open and perhaps not too different from when the early settlers rolled over the last range of hills and down in to the Eagle Creek Valley, lives my Mother-in-Law, two cats, and a handful of chickens.

It was cider press day, so we stopped in to help keep the old contraption running.

The air was scented with apples and fir boughs and warm grass, and although the pile of fruit was small to begin, the cider was sweet and just plentiful enough to last into Autumn.

Oven-Roasted Salmon with Chili and Olive Oil

For the last year or so, this dinner has been on our menu almost weekly. It makes each and every one of us happy, the kids included. Considering how finicky they can be when it comes to their food, I hold this fact with pride... My Kids Love Salmon!

Oven-Roasted Salmon with Chili and Olive Oil

1 side wild-caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chili Powder
Coarse Salt
Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Drizzle Olive oil on roasting pan or cookie sheet. Place salmon skin side down on the olive oil. Drizzle more oil over the salmon, then season with coarse salt, chili powder, and black pepper.

Roast for 25-35 minutes, or until the salmon flakes when pulled apart with a fork.

We like to eat our salmon with steamed brown rice and some of my home-canned green beans.

Enjoy!

Lately

Japanese Iris, Crabapples, and Warm Afternoon Sun... Full Moon, Brilliant Colors, and Mushrooms the Size of Dessert Plates... Hydrangeas, Bananagrams, and the Frilly Underside of Fungii... Blazing Red, Autumn Barn, and Threads Pulled for a New Sampler... Playing Kids, Pearly Everlasting, and Black Kitty Fur Soaking in Final Rays of Sun.

Christmas in October Sale!

For the next week (10/23/13-10/30/13), I will be offering an irresistible opportunity for you to get some early Christmas shopping done!

Hopefully this won't seem too complicated, but here's how it will work...

1. In my etsy shop, choose and add to your cart as many full-price Christmas or Winter-themed designs as you wish (printed patterns only, PDFs are excluded from this sale).

2. For every full-price Christmas or Winter-themed pattern you choose, you may add either one Sale-priced pattern for free (well, okay, I have to charge .20 per etsy's rules), or, one full-price pattern for $3.00.

3. There will be two Christmas in October SALE listings to add to your cart to represent your choice. Please be sure to name the title of the pattern you've chosen in the comments box so that I don't have to hunt you down to find out what you want.

**Do not add the regular listings for the additional pattern, because if you do, it will be a LOT of work to un-do the charges and re-issue an invoice. If you add the regular listing instead of one of the special SALE listings, I will assume you mean to pay the price listed and will proceed as if you don't know about the sale.**

If you have questions, or don't understand my rules, please feel free to send me a convo through etsy, or email me directly.

Final Firepit

We've been experiencing unexpectedly warm and sunny weather these last few weeks. Normally cool and wet by the middle of October, you won't be hearing us complain about the extension of our Summer. Well, not Summer exactly... the mornings are frosty and cold, and once that sun hides behind the horizon... brrrr.

We decided to take advantage by squeezing in one final firepit family dinner. Simple country setting + simple country food = priceless memories.

P.S. After losing track of my project for nearly a week (forgot that I had put it in a little-used zipper pocket of my handbag to work on while at an appointment), I (Beth) finally have more progress to show on my Ever Blessed Stitch-Along piece... How is your project coming along? Please send pictures!

Finding Faces

I wasn't quite sure whether I should scream or laugh when I cut into this potato that I had just dug from the garden.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (Dairy-Free)

Well, my dears, it is that lovely time of year again. Everywhere we turn its Pumpkin-this and Pumpkin-that, mouth-watering yummy-ness just waiting for us to pounce. To help keep our waistlines and pocketbook in check, I came up with this favorite after-school treat.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

One 13.5 ounce can Unsweetened Organic Coconut Milk (my favorite is Native Forest)
Half of a 15 ounce can plain Organic Pumpkin (I like Farmer's Market brand)
Two 16 ounce tumblers of crushed ice
1/3 cup Real Maple Syrup (or sweetener of your choosing; sweeten to your taste)
1 heaping teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger

Blend until smooth. Sip through a glass straw... Yum.

And, if you feel like changing things up a little, throw in a handful of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips (to keep it dairy-free; if you don't have to avoid dairy, then by all means use whatever mini chips you prefer). Pumpkin and Chocolate are a match that could have only been made in Heaven.

Lately

Kitties, ferns, mushrooms, a garden mostly harvested... barn, glorious morning light, tire swing, dewdrops... rust, shadows, stacks and stacks of orders, rubber boots... forest walks, blazing fire, cuddle time, morning mist... and a glowing Autumn wallpaper just for you.

Left click on that final photo to open, then right click to save to your computer. For personal use only please (no commercial re-prints), but feel free to pin and share.