morning

I love the light of early morning . . .

and popovers that do not "fall" . . .

my Mama's enthusiasm over my baking . . .

and my star, butterflies, hearts, and little birdies . . .

Ravioli with Pumpkin Sauce

I just made this delicious pasta tonight.
I was certain I had posted the recipe here in this space, but upon searching I came up empty.
So here I am to remedy that!
This pasta is my ultimate indulgence, but not many of my family members love it like I do.
Perhaps that is why I only make it once or twice a year.


Ravioli with Pumpkin Sauce
Makes 6 servings

1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon  flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup solid-pack pumpkin
2 packages (8 ounces each) uncooked frozen ravioli
(my favorite are Rising Moon Organics Butternut Squash)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Heat butter over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and fennel seeds; cook and stir until onions are tender.
Combine milk, flour, salt and pepper in small bowl until smooth; stir into saucepan.
Bring to a boil over high heat; boil until thickened, stirring constantly.
Stir in pumpkin; reduce heat to low.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt.
Drain.
Divide ravioli evenly among 6 plates; top each with equal amount of pumpkin sauce.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Serve immediately.

You're welcome! ;)

play

Have you taken the time lately, to just play ?

Mother's Day 2011

I was awakened from a deep sleep by My Girl... She smiled brightly, and declared that breakfast was ready! In fact it was "right here!"
She proudly presented a tray with heart-shaped pancakes, butter, syrup and a copy of the "Mom's Gazette."
She had made the pancakes all by herself with only minimal help from Daddy when the batter was not exactly pour-able. ;)
What a wonderful way to wake up.
Something I've been waiting 10 years for! :)

I enjoyed sipping my coffee on the patio in my hammock chair, with my loves in view. I also received a very lovely Lisa Leonard Designs necklace from my wonderful hubby! I've been wanting one of her pieces for a long time!

rising early

For the past three days I have been waking early in the morning, before everyone else to allow for some alone productive time.
Yesterday morning I was able to catch glimpses of the sunrise throughout our home, and I enjoyed the slow ease into our day...

Let's hope it sticks! :)

Luxurious Foamy Castile Soap

I LOVE foam hand soap! (so do my kids!)
I also LOVE Dr. Bronner's soaps! I use it to make homemade laundry soap and as a floor cleaner in a handy spray bottle. There are a million uses for this wonderful soap!
I was so excited when I figured out how to transform this lovely soap into a luxurious foaming hand soap.
Here's my "trick"...

You will need:
-1 empty Dial Complete Foaming Antibacterial Hand Wash dispenser
- Your favorite scented Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Classic Liquid Soap (my favorite is Lavender, but I can't wait to try the new citrus scent!)

Fill the empty dispenser about a 1/2-inch to 1-inch with Dr. Bronner's liquid.
Fill the rest of the way with water *slowly so you don't create too many bubbles* making sure to leave enough empty space to accommodate the pump mechanism inside the bottle.
Viola! You have an amazing smelling Fair Trade, Organic foaming hand soap! :) 

coffee love

I've been a coffee drinker for about 6 or 7 years now...but my obsession was nurtured in Alaska.
There were "coffee huts" on just about every corner in Fairbanks and it is there that I had my first latte.
First GOOD latte.

12 oz. / double shot / creamy goodness

I was visiting the above mentioned "coffee huts" with ridiculous frequency...
My habit was getting pricey, and a friend had just purchased a home machine...
After having a few lattes prepared by him I HAD to have my own!
And the love affair began...ahhh...
It's silly...but I LOVE a good latte! They are hard to come by now that we have moved away from Alaska.
I get a good one every now and then when we travel through Austin, TX.
I admit I get a bit crazed about coffee.... ha! ha! :) 
Even as much as I love it, I know I need to cut back a little...so I'll end with a question:
What is your favorite beverage to indulge in?

golden light

I've been a bit quiet around here for a couple reasons...
one being that I have a ONE YEAR OLD who never lets me sit for more than 2 minutes! ha!
and two my computer got "sick" and had to go to the shop.
It's back home now with most of my data intact, but I am having to re-load a lot of software.
Photoshop was the first thing I re-installed! :)

I'm just going to jump right in then...

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In the late afternoon at my house, my kitchen comes alive with golden light...it catches me everytime and beckons me to linger a little longer in it...I hardly ever mind washing up the dishes when the light is so beautiful...

There is something very therapeutic in hand washing your dishes...especially when they are some of your favorite items in your home. I have purged all of my coffee mugs so that I have only kept my very favorite ones...they each conjure up a different feeling, and I am never sad with one in hand. :)
Admittedly, between the automatic dishwasher, and my wonderful husband, I don't wash many dishes... I am blessed.
If it were a choice between washing dishes or doing laundry I would pick the laundry ANY day! Must be because I had to wash a LOT of dishes growing up, because my sister ALWAYS seemed to need to use the bathroom around dishes time in our house! ha! ;) *love you Rach!*  
Spending a little time in that golden light of the afternoon is even more pleasant with cute "help" around! 

Add to that, Pandora radio with Shane & Shane filling the air with praise to God, and you have yourself a perfectly pleasant "golden" afternoon!

mmm...

kum·quat
\ˈkəm-ˌkwät\
noun

: any of several small yellow to orange citrus fruits with sweet spongy rind and somewhat acid pulp that are used chiefly for preserves

Since becoming pregnant I have had quite the appetite for junk food, which frustrates me! I used to eat fairly healthy, and hardly ever drank soda. Now pass the root beer and cookies! :)
These little golden globes are something I've been loving lately...and their healthy to boot!
I love the sweet and sour taste, and that you can pop them in rind and all! YUM!

mmmm...

Today I'm busy cleaning and doing laundry, as well as baking sugar cookies in the shapes of leaves and acorns. Tomorrow we are carving pumpkins and frosting the cookies with cousins. Should be fun. In an effort to get that fall feeling around here I replaced my PlugIns with this scent! mmmm... The weather is certainly not fall like around here, with temperatures in the upper 80's!