Oh, Life ...

 I seldom make stirfry, but I'm not sure why that is.  My whole family loves it, and there are seldom leftovers but I just don't think to do it until someone starts walking around the house quoting Kung Fu Panda; "We are noodle folk. Broth runs through our veins."  "Noodles, don't noodles?" ...

 The ingredients vary - mushrooms, pea pods, peppers, bok choy, endive, squash, asparagus tips, ... Doesn't matter, they eat it!

We used yaki soba noodles this time.  I think these are their favorite ones, but they are gluten so I like to use the bean threads or rice noodles wherever possible.

C and I spent Friday morning together over cups of coffee just chatting and catching up.  I love my eldest.  She is an amazing woman.  I also love that she gets me.  I'm snapping pictures of cups, hands, faces - from all directions and angles and she is just giggling at me.  "You are such a photographer, Mom."  

 She does a great job with a camera too.

 These times are so precious because I don't know how much longer she'll be with us.  She has dreams and adventures to pursue.  I will miss her so.

 Sitting here, in the morning light, sipping white mochas, nibbling apples, laughing, and uncovering those dreams?  Priceless.

 I tell ya, she is good with photo composition!  

She doesn't like me taking her picture, but I love that she lets me.  :) I mean, tell me how could I resist this face?

She captured M's silliness the other night too.  What will life be like in this house with these two wonders gone?

 M works well with 1 year olds.  She 'gets' them.  Home for lunch break, she lets out some pent up emotions, then, off to love the chitlins again! 

 Now, we have the weekend stretching before us just fraught with possibility.  I think it will be simply wonderful.
Hope your weekend is beautiful, too! 

Scenes from the weekend

 Minda made another star lantern.  She makes little changes each time and each time she gets better results.

  She bought this paper at Ro-Sham-Bo last weekend, and this weekend it became a star.

 We found this fabric on sale at JoAnn's and decided it would make a perfect Valentine tablecloth.

 Gluten Free Gnocchi.  Yum!  Easy and Delish.

 Waiting for the pot to boil.

 Steamy goodness topped with fresh pesto! 
I like giving them reasons to stay home and gather together.

 GF Focaccia bread, Gnocchi and Pesto and an Arugula Shitake salad with grated goat's milk Asagio.

(Recipe for Gnocchi).  (Recipe for Pesto).  (Mix for Focaccia)

And GF Coffee Cake for friends who came Sunday Morning! (Recipe for GF Coffee Cake)

Around here lately...

 Game night with friends!  We taught Cameron how to play Cribbage.

 Evie made an awesome birthday cake to celebrate her daddy's and Stefan's birthdays!

 Such a perfect depiction of these 2 fellas.  Love them.

 Making wishes.

 Everybody anticipating the deliciousness.

 Kaylie had to make wishes too.

Joy came to visit for a few days from Washington.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

In 2012 ~ from dissonance to consonance

I so often don't see my giftings as anything special, beautiful or to be desired by anyone but me.  Then James buys me these.  Investment holds value in a timid heart.  Suddenly hope takes root where once only wishes were carelessly tossed.  We shall see what 2012 draws up from the well.

New kid on the block!

My big brother holding his firstborn son.  

Welcome to the world 

Little K.

Handcrafted Christmas

 This year was all about crafting!   You saw the quilts Mom made for us in the posts below. None of the rest of us went quite so elaborate.  I made the Quick Change trousers above from Anna Maria's book.  They are so soft and thick.  Corduroy, flannel, and cotton.  Fully reversible and so easy to whip together.  Can't wait to see them on the nephews and niece!! I made Jer a matching hat, but had to throw a hot pink liner in it as a tribute to his papa. 

For Mom & Dad I cut down wine corks to make them a set of coasters and a trivet.

 I also made several of these reusable snack bags using this tutorial.  Mommas can always use more fun ways to carry foods for those growing moppets!

 

M made several of the bubble magnets for Nanna to have more ways to hang all that art work Conner and Marion will be doing.

 I bought some local goat's milk soap from Hyalite Farms and wet felted it with roving from local sheep.

 M made a star lantern (and can't wait to make more for her own room!) They are so pretty.

 And this roll-up-take-anywhere Hopscotch mat and beanbags (actually filled with rice) for those rainy days when the kids have to be inside.

Of course, M knitted up a storm of hats and wraps for the long, cold days ahead. She is so fast too!

My little gnome I felted will hopefully soon be the new mascot of the Adventure Explorers of Hotels, Beaches & Campsites club (so named by Con-man).  He'll be a bright, happy edition to the nature table if he doesn't go adventuring though.

and lastly, chalkboards!  They must be all the rage right now because it took me 6 stores to find chalkboard paint in stock! I hung mine a bit differently than the one above.

Hope everyone enjoys their goodies.  I had big dreams and visions of doing so much more than this, but when you begin 2 weeks before Christmas, there is a bit of a crunch...  ahem... yes, well, live and learn. None-the-less, they were all made with love,  + some blood and sweat and tears too, for those we adore.
 I should also show you what the girls created for each other. ...

 M made a mixed media journal for C and C made a mixed media canvas for M! 

So thankful my kiddos love each other so deeply.

The Recieving of the Love

DPP '11 :: swaddled ::

... in Grandma's love

DPP '11 :: all ::

Merry Christmas from all us Pauls!

DPP '11 :: texture ::

DPP '11 :: friendship ::

What she sees in me I have no idea, but Oh! How I love her and am so blessed she loves me too.