Menu Plan ~ Week of October 23rd

Sunday

Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Black Bean Burritos

Monday

Breakfast: Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

Lunch: Red Quinona with Sauteed Veggies

Dinner: Cheese Ravioli, Garden Salad and Garlic Bread

Tuesday

Breakfast: Bulgar Wheat with Fruit

Lunch: Creamy Mac & Cheese with Peas

Dinner: Hamburger Stroganoff over Brown Rice with Broccoli

Wednesday

Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Toast with Fruit

Lunch: Hummus, Veggie Sticks, Crackers and Apples

Dinner: Potato Leek Soup, Garden Salad and Sourdough Bread

Thursday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Roasted Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Dinner: Pork Ribs, Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Friday

Breakfast: Homemade Yogurt and Maple Almond Granola

Lunch: Tuna Melts with Kale Chips

Dinner: Homemade Pizza

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes with Sausage

Lunch: Nachos

Dinner: Chili with Cornbread

Looking for even more menu planning inspiration? Head on over to Menu Planning Monday hosted by I'm an Organizing Junkie.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~~~~

~~~~~

In gratitude this week for:

• Firewood


• Good friends and coffee


• The color of Autumn


• A certain four year old's imagination
  
  

Wishing all of you a blessed weekeng!

Yarn Along

Joining in the fun of the weekly Yarn Along hosted by Ginny over at Small Things. In Ginny's words:

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I'm still working on my February Lady's Sweater. I can't figure out why the sleeves are taking so much longer than the body. It is the same pattern and obviously a lot less of it. But I will keep plugging away. A friend wanted to take a peek at Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac so of course I had to thumb through it as well. Now I have plans to make at least four pairs of leggings for the girls and I. Perfect to keep us all warm on the wold New England days that are right around the corner. Lots of knitting, but hopefully they will go quickly. I just need to find the yarn.

The little snowman is needle felted, but I did knit his scarf. I added his branch arms but they are hard to see in the photo above, so here he is again.

All he needs is a hanger and he is ready to adorn the Christmas tree. Just can't tell you who's tree he will be gracing. That is a surprise.

Hopefully next week I will have moved on to the next project in line. They seem to be lining up faster than I can knit them. Requests from everyone for new hat, mittens, and such.

Handmade Holiday ~ Snowman Ornament

Inspired by Tonya over at Plain and Joyful Living I've started getting my Christmas crafting organized and moving right along. Do stop by and see what she is making as well as others.

We have been lucky not to have temperature dip below freezing yet, but luckily this little snowman wont melt. He is a needle felted and knit ornament. Simple and cute! And I really think he will look great hanging on someones tree. Of course I can't tell you whose, that would ruin all the fun. I do think I will add some twig arms, but it is too dark to go out searching tonight. I have quite a few other little ornaments in the planning stages. As well a some sewing project and lots of knitting. Hopefully, I will be able to share more soon.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of October 16th

Can I just tell you how frustrating it is when events are scheduled during the dinner hour?! We have always eaten dinner as a family. There are very few dinners that we miss and there usually is a really good reason for not eating together. Gathering the family around the dinner table nutritious not just our bodies, but also our souls and the soul of this family. It is when, after a long, day that we are able to come together and share our joys, our accomplishments, our failures and our needs. It is a time when memories are made. And while I have know that gathering around the family table for supper is becoming a thing of the past, I now truly morn this loss especially for those who don't even know they have lost anything.

You see, our daughter Sarah is in a local production of Peter Pan. And while she loves theater and this company is fabulous, rehearsals begin at 5:30pm a little more than 1/2 hour from our home. That means at least three nights a week our dinner has been a little crazy. Sarah and I eat before we leave for practice, the rest of the family eat when Dad gets home. At first planning meals that would hold or could be reheated and still taste fresh was the hard part. However, then I started to miss the family dinner table, I missed the stories shared, the laughter, the bonding. All these so much more important than the food that was actually served.

So while Sarah will continue with the play - the show must go on, and will audition for next years production (yes she is already talking about it) I will cherish all the family dinners we do have together and look forward to the end of the show when all our dinners can be shared together.

If you aren't eating your dinners as a family or are eating them in front of the TV I challenge you to set your table, light a couple of candles and share your meal together. I guarantee you wont regret it.

So now that my rant is over, on with the meals for the week.

Sunday
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast and Apples
Lunch: Harvest Supper at Church
Dinner: Baked Cod with Spinach and Tomatoes served with Brown Rice

Monday
Breakfast: Homemade Yogurt and Maple Almond Granola
Lunch: Chicken Cesar Salads with Garlic Bread
Dinner: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole with Broccoli

Tuesday
Breakfast: Buckwheat Porridge with Blueberries and Cream
Lunch: Creamy Mac & Cheese with Peas
Dinner: Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Wednesday
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Wheat Toast with Cantaloupe
Lunch: Picnic - Hummus, Rye Crackers, Veggies Sticks, Apples and Cheese
Dinner: Spaghetti , Garden Salad and Garlic Bread

Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch:
Dinner: Baked Chicken, Red Quinoa with Roasted Veggies

Friday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins and Kifer Smoothies
Lunch: Tuna Melts with Kale Chips
Dinner: Sausage with Onion & Pepper Subs with Tater Tots

Saturday
Breakfast: Blueberry Pancakes with Sausage
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Black Bean Burritos

I'd love to hear your thoughts on family meals.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~~~~

~~~~~

In gratitude this week for:

• A food co-op delivery and the wonderful ladies who share the bounty with me
• Autumn's beautiful colors
• Time, even though short, to catch up with my best friend
• Lots of yummy things coming out of the kitchen
  
  Wishing all of you a glorious weekend.

Yarn Along

A day late I know, but I have been missing the fun of the Yarn Along hosted by Ginny over at Small Things.


I have had lots of minutes to knit during play rehearsals, but not much time for reading. I am working on the February Lady Sweater for a Christmas gift. I only have the sleeves left to knit. Then to block and find buttons. It really is a lovely pattern. And once you get going the lace pattern is easy to remember. I can see myself making one of these for myself one day.

As for reading, I have found time to thumb through my well loved copy of Nourishing Traditions I've been on a mission to add a wider variety of whole grains to our diet and this book has lots of great information as well as recipes. Next up - Barley Casserole!

Don't forget to hop on over to the Yarn Along and see what everyone else is knitting and reading. I guarantee you'll find lots of inspiration.

Handmade Holiday 2011

Can you believe it is that time again? The holidays will be here before you know it. So now is the time, if you haven't already, to start making that list and checking it twice. For the last few years we have been making many of our gifts for family and friends. There is such joy in both the making and the giving. This year we will be joining in the fun of Handmade Holiday hosted by Tonya over at Plain and Joyful Living.

I don't have much to share in the way of projects today. But my notebook is full of ideas and patterns for those on my list. I have also begun collecting supplies. I am also trying to figure out how to share what we are making without spoiling the surprise.

So for now I will leave you with some delicious yarns that are destine to become beautiful gifts for someone.


So there will be knitting, and sewing, concocting and cooking. Lots of handmade goodness for those I love this year. I hope you'll consider making at least of few of your gifts this year.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of October 9th

So assigning a meal category to each day is definitely making meal planning easier. but I am finding that I need to work the plan and not let it work me. You see Sarah has a part in a local production of Peter Pan and most of their rehearsals begin at 5:30. This is definitely throwing a kink in my menu planning. Trying to come up with meals that I can have ready for her and I to eat at 4:30 that will still be yummy and not a lot of work for hubby and the other girls to eat at 6:15 isn't all that easy. The play opens the first week of November so this really is a short term obstacle, but I need to be flexible and let the organizing plan fall be the wayside for a bit I think. Other than crock pot meals (I don't have one), what are your fast favorites that hold well? I'd love it if you would share.


SUNDAY
Breakfast: Wheat Bagels and Cream Cheese
Lunch: Garden Salads
Dinner: Pot Roast, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes and Maple Gingered Carrots

MONDAY
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Whole Wheat Toast
Lunch: Quinoa with Roasted Veggies
Dinner: Cheesy Bow Tie Pasta with Peas and Ham

TUESDAY
Breakfast: Bulgar with Fruit and Milk
Lunch: Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Dinner: Sausage and Potato Frittata with Cantaloupe

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast and Apple Sauce
Lunch: Hummus, Pita, Veggies Sticks with Apples
Dinner: Meatball Tortellini Soup with Sourdough Bread

THURSDAY
Breakfast: Homemade Yogurt with Maple Almond Granola
Lunch: Creamy Mac & Cheese and Broccoli
Dinner: Baked Chicken, Brown Rice and Green Beans

FRIDAY
Breakfast: Oat and Fruit Scones
Lunch: Tuna Wraps with Apples
Dinner: Homemade Pizza

SATURDAY
Breakfast: Waffles and Sausage
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Black Bean Burritos and Corn

Menu Planning Monday is hosted by I'm an Organizing Junkie. Head on over for some more menu planning inspiration.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~~~~

~~~~~

In gratitude this week for:

• A trip to the apple orchard with friend


• The return of the sun


• Soup, lots and lots of yummy soup


• The annual trip to the fair

Wishing all of you a glorious weekend.

Fall Match Box - Tutorial

As we have worked to establish rhythms to our day, we have used the lighting and extinguishing of candles to signify the beginning and end of many activities. Candles at meal times, candles at circle time, candles at bedtime. There is just something magical about candles, don't you agree?

Well with all the matches we have been using I had to come up with a way to make the ugly match box a little more presentable. So the quick and easy solution was to make a wool felt cover.


You will need:

• a piece of felt the same size as the top of the match box


• Scraps of felt to make your decoration - we chose leave as it is autumn now


• templates for you decorations - clip art is great for this


• scissor


• fabric glue
  

First trace the side of the match box you want to cover onto the large piece of felt. Cut out.

Next glue the felt to the match box.

Next pin the templates onto your scraps of felt. Cut out. Arrange on top of the felt covered box. Once you like the arrangement, glue the pieces in place.

All finished. Now the matches can sit out and not be an eye sore. The bees wax candle was made by Bekah as part of our Michaelmas Celebration.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of October 2nd

Simplicity has been a big word around here lately. The whirlwind that life has become just doesn't appeal to me. I long for the slower days of years gone by. Where gathering around the table to a home cooked meal was a daily event, not one that just happened at the holidays. However, with three busy girls and a husband with a crazy schedule that isn't always easy. So I have set out to simplify my meal plans a bit.


I have been loving adding a wider variety of grains to our diet. So I am planning to continue trying to follow the daily grain. I'm still looking for millet, barley and rye recipes so please share if you have any fabulous and kid friendly ones. The next step in simplifying the menu is having a category for each day's evening meal. Once I assigned a day a category, I made up index card for each day with our favorite meals. Now I quick look at the index cards and I can plug dinners in quickly. I think we will end up with more variety as I often get stuck in a rut and make the same chicken, rice and veggie or casserole far to often. Of course I will still be on the look out for new family favorites. This is only week one for this new little plan so only time will tell if it really simplifies things a bit.


Sunday~wheat/roast
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast and Yogurt
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Ham, Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Carrots

Monday~rice/pasta
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Toast
Lunch: Roasted Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Dinner: Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells, Salad, and Garlic Bread

Tuesday~barley/casserole
Breakfast: Barley Porridge with Honeyed Almonds and Roasted Apples
Lunch: Creamy Mac & Cheese with
Dinner: Chicken Divan with 90 Minute Rolls

Wednesday~millet/soup
Breakfast: Pumpkin Muffins
Lunch: Perform It Picnic
Dinner: Ham and Bean Soup with Corn Bread

Thursday~rye/meat-starch-veggie
Breakfast: Oatmeal Bar with all the Fixings
Lunch: Ham Salad Sandwiches on Rye Bread
Dinner: Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy, Fried Potatoes and Green Beans

Friday~oats/pizza,burger,sandwich
Breakfast: Oatmeal and Fruit Scones
Lunch: Fryeburg Fair
Dinner: Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and Corn

Saturday~corn/Mexican or Chinese
Breakfast: French Toast with Sausage
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Tacos

So do you have any menu planning tips or tricks? I'd love to hear what works for your family. And if you haven't taken the plunge into menu planning you really should. You can find more inspriation at Menu Planning Monday hosted by I'm an Organizing Junkie.