WIP Wendnesday: Dahlia Two

This week I am officially back into obsessive crafting mode.

I haven't written much about the last 6 weeks, but the truth is I had a rough patch with my health. The good news is that I am BACK! And what's better is that my creative mojo is back too!

I was able to finish a few projects that I wanted to complete and now I am elbow deep into a new WIP (work-in-process.)

I'm calling her Dahlia Two.

I found this Dahlia square as a free .pdf on Ravelry and fell in love. You can find it HERE.

I was so enamored by it that I immediately picked up some yarn purchased nearly a year ago and began hooking away. After a few adjustments (I had to go down a size of the recommended hook) I was soon dreaming of a little lap throw that would make someone happy. I won't be keeping this piece, and having the recipient in mind while I busily work the hook makes the creative process just that more sweet.

In the past I haven't been fond of piecing together squares, but something "clicked" when I put together my last afghan (a different kind of Dahlia Throw) and now I'm headlong into this new square hook up.

 This time I will be using this tutorial, Flat Braid Square Join, to bring everything together.  I have read through this tutorial three times and it is a well done tutorial with pictures.

Can't wait to see how everything turns out.

I am so grateful for the gifts of creativity and for feeling back to my old self!

Happy Wednesday!

Three Pounds, Three Ounces

This weekend I had the opportunity to walk through the garden of a dear friend and neighbor. She and her husband keep a large patch on their property, and grow a plethora of fruits and veggies.

Being a new gardner, I am always interested in talking with seasoned growers. Especially gardeners who enjoy sharing their tips.

This weekend I didn't just walk away with advice, but arms heaving with vegetables.

I came home with cucumber, yellow squash, green beans, a bell pepper, and the BIGGEST zucchini I have ever seen.

It weighs in at 3.3 ounces. I've known newborns smaller than this veg.

Earlier in the morning I had been in my small patch and had pulled a cucumber that closely resembled a bowling pin, and two small zucchini. When I put the Big Zucchini next to my mini-zuc's I started humming: one of these things is not like the other, one these things is not quite the same. 

Looks like it will be zucchini for dinner, and zucchini bread for dessert.

Thankful... for the abundant gift of friends and neighbors and delicious food.

Five on Friday

one:

I finished the Dahlia Afghan this week. I love it, but was surprised that it isn't quite as big as I thought it would be. I think it will be great in the fall when I am sitting on a soccer field sipping coffee and trying to keep warm, but it isn't quite big enough for a full cover up. The only thing I did differently from the pattern was place an shelled edge around the border. It was just too plain without it.

two:

The Girl and I had planted some Gladiolas in March. They grew up immediately, but never produced flowers. I figured we had done something wrong. Turns out, we were just a little early! They are amazing.

three:

I went berry pickin' with my friend Elisa and her kiddos last week. We picked blueberries and (the BIGGEST) blackberries I had ever seen.

four:

If you need a good but very simple Blueberry Coffee Cake recipe, you can't beat Ina's... so, so good.

five:

I've also been eating granola with greek yogurt and berries for breakfast nearly every day. I promised to share my latest granola recipe. My other favorite granola recipe has more sugar and isn't dairy free, but this one is equally good... I like it even a little better because it isn't quite as sweet.

Granola:

4 cups oatmeal
1.5 - 2 cups combined nuts and seeds*
2 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 - 6 Tbls oil ( I used coconut oil, but I have used melted butter or canola in the past. Using less oil          
                       yields a crumblier granola, more like a cereal than big chunks)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey
2 tsp vanilla

Mix oats, nuts, and spices in a big bowl. Combine oil, syrup, and vanilla in a separate dish and pour over oat mixture. Spread into a greased jelly roll pan, and cooke for 15-20 minutes at 350. Granola will turn golden in color when done. Cooking longer will lend to a crunchier texture.

*I use a combination of walnuts, sunflower seed, pepitas, pine nuts, chopped almonds, whatever I have in my cupboard. I have also added cranberries, but if you add them I would add them to the granola after baking, otherwise they get REALLY dry and hard.)

Enjoy!

Summer Blue

I went to visit a friend who lives just down the street. She has hydrangeas that have been growing in her yard for nearly thirty years.

Lilac. Blue. Purple. They amaze me.

Perfect little bouquets...

... that faithfully come up year after year.

As I snapped pictures she clipped several bunches and wrapped the stems in a moist paper towel and gave them to me. Its nice to have generous neighbors who enjoy sharing beautiful things.

I loved the short walk home with my colorful bouquet; feeling the pride of a child who has just picked flowers from her mothers garden, and dreaming of what they would look like in my white pitcher on the dining room table.

~~~

See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 

 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, 

O you of little faith? 

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or 

‘What shall we wear?’  

For the pagans run after all these things, 

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well.  

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, f

or tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6: 29-34

Gratitude Giving

Today I am thankful for...

... quiet spaces.

... being tucked under the wings of God and his people.

... peace that comes in the morning.

... the harvest of working hard in the sun and depending on rain... but ultimately knowing that the timing of fruit comes from the Father's hand.

You may need to click on this picture to see it clearly.  

...for levity.

... for the gift of making tangible order from messy items... like laundry and muffins.

... for new hair cuts.

... and smiling faces.

Do you think we're related?

... for finding not one, but two, copies of a book I need to re-read.

... for a change in plans.

... for a husband who is truly my dearest friend.

... for prayer and God's word.

... for the ability to write these words...

For all these things I am grateful.

The Year of the Tent

If days could speak, this weekend would speak volumes. But all I can do is sit here, with deep sighs of contentedness, and wonder where all the words have gone. So I'll show you pictures instead...

Among all the celebrations this weekend we celebrate the Year of the Tent.

The traditional gift for seventeen years of marriage is furniture. Surely a new tent and sleeping bag count.

It was a good weekend...

For the record... while shopping this weekend The Mister did buy a new tent and sleeping bag for an upcoming trip, but it was not my anniversary gift. Although i wouldn't have minded if it was...

Thankful Things

1. School is OUT!! HOORAY! This next week will be a teacher/student work week as we clean up and organize the Little Yellow House on the Hill. I cannot wait to get this house back in order!

2. Sunshine after rain. The weather this week has been a bit gloomy. I was grateful for a bit of sunshine yesterday!

3. Dahlia's. This was the first year I planted these flowers and I cannot imagine my garden without them.

4. Flip-flop Flintstone feet. When I loaded this picture up I laughed out loud. I have the biggest, flattest feet ever, but I am not a huge fan of wearing shoes...I like to be bare foot. I'm so glad its time for flip flops and ....and pedicures.

5. Lessons from the garden.  "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4) I don't know what it is about the violet that makes think about this verse. Perhaps its her happy little face in a jungle of green; or maybe because after the soaking of rain she just keeps-on-keepin'-on... but her purple-blue hues with contrast of yellow is joyful. And reminds me to be the same.


Happy Friday!

dissonance

In music there is something called dissonance, a “simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of unrest and needing completion.”

In choir we’ve been singing the song Psalm 150 - based on the short, but powerful Psalm written as praise to God. The chorale piece, at times sung in eight parts, is lovely. But right at the most beautiful of phrases (in word and music) comes the dissonant chord. It is unsettling; a true clash of cymbals. Beautiful and unnerving, my heart is glad when its over. Harmony feels complete.

Dissonance feels awkward, even distressing. But I can’t help thinking that it is also a gift given as a picture for this beautiful life... more importantly it is an encouragement for the eternal life to come. 

Today I look around me and choose courage because there is God-given beauty - today - and it gives me hope, but there is something I cannot put my finger on; something that causes me great dissatisfaction. Something, that in the midst of a million brilliant moments, causes unrest and leaves me grasping for resolution. The now and the not yet.... dissonance living. Sometimes I can ignore the uncomfortable sound, that part that makes me uneasy. But sometimes the unrestful tones are so loud I cannot hear the beauty between.

Someday, God will resolve this unrestful chord and we will throw our heads back in relief and our songs will burst forth. Until then, we can use that sound as a reminder to look to Him who sings over us in love (Zeph 3:17). Three times in John 15: 9-10 Christ says this: (As my Father has loved me) Remain in my love. (Obey my commands) Remain in my love. (As I obeyed my Father) Remain in my love.

It is this active, living, sacrificial love that gives us the room to readily, wildly, praise Him even in our unresolved moments. He loves us and has promised that dissonance will not chain us. There will come a day when our uneasiness, our fear, our discontent will no longer hinder us because we will be standing face-to-face with Him who makes our joy complete. (John 15:11)

Dissonance resolved. 

Amen.

Cinnamon Chili Brownie with Salted Caramel

Last weekend The Mister and I had two other couples over for a Cinco de Mayo dinner party.

I really wanted to make something traditional for dessert, but I'm not a flan fan, and sopapillas are only good when they are served from fryer to plate-- didn't want to have to cook while everyone was enjoying after dinner conversation.

I decided I would make a Cinnamon Chili Brownie with salted caramel.

Mexican Brownies

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 (rounded) teaspoon ground cinnamon (canela)
• 1/4 - 1/2  teaspoon chili powder or cayenne pepper (I used 1/2 tsp, but could have used more!)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Press the paper into the corners of the pan and spray paper with cooking spray.

Melt the 2 sticks of butter (but do not boil.) Let cool. Mix sugar, eggs, vanilla and butter. Until light yellow and creamy.  

Add the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, chili powder, salt and baking powder and mix until smooth. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out fudgy, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack, then use the parchment paper to lift out the brownies before slicing.

Salted Caramel

At some point I had read that if you simmer a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of water for several hours, it would turn to caramel. I tried it, and it is delish.

Take paper off of the can, submerge it in a pot of water; bring the water to a simmer (do not boil); refill the water when low (be sure to keep can completely submerged at all times).  Simmer for three (ish) hours. Let can cool, then open, and spread on brownies.

Sprinkle a dash of kosher salt on the top.

Serve with a scoop of Vanilla Bean ice cream and a cup of hot coffee.

Muy bueno!

Hot Turkey and Pink Hair: Just Another Day with CPQ

She doesn't like hot turkey in a sandwich.

It's true.

I've seen her eat from hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and reindeer sausage in a lavender field on an island, but she doesn't eat hot turkey in a sandwich. And you know what? It makes me feel better. Because when I turn my nose up at mayo, or mystery meat, or marinated bug juice on the side of a Jamaican road, I finally know she has a culinary kryptonite too.

About once a month the Carpoolqueen and I meet for coffee or lunch, and I always learn something new. I look forward to spending time with her. Not only is she is a good friend, but fun things happen when she is around.

For instance, I didn't get a picture of the two of us, which is a shame, because we both looked pretty cute...

But,  I snapped this picture outside of the cafe seconds before an amorous couple stood beneath the Japanese lanterns, right in front of the upstairs window and enthusiastically showed their love for one another. Think excessive PDA. I almost choked on my salted carmel brownie for the chuckling that ensued.

Soon after I snapped this picture of the robot a very sweaty (if not slightly under-dressed) woman ran into the bakery in nothing but short running shorts and a smallish sports bra, and ran out with a cup of coffee in her hand.

I'm pretty sure you'll want to click on over to CPQ's site at some point, because she got the GOOD pictures... the pink-haired lady and the dessert.

That's the thing with CPQ, wherever she goes something fun(ny) will happen, and she will take it all in stride (along with a picture or two.)

In between bites of sandwich and pastry (with a heavy side of people watching) we laughed and talked about things on our mind and our heart, and it was just nice to be with someone who wants to enjoy life and know others... and can see the humor in everyday things and encourages others to do that too.

Love that CPQ.

Pleasant Places

She sits quietly in the garden, waiting for such a time as this.

I cannot take credit for her growth or grace; nor the way her deep purple petals slowly opened to reveal a sweet yellow face. 

 I cannot begin to understand  how an ugly brown seed placed deep in the soil, my hands barely dirty for the digging, grew up to be a picture of God's goodness and glory. 

But I do know this...

I planted that seed in hope of a coming beauty, and I was not disappointed. God, who orders our days even as we think we've got it all planned out, is in control. He knows how that seed becomes a flower, because He made it so.

Last week I was complaining to a friend that the seeds planted many months ago had not yet flowered and I was irritated. I wanted to hurry the process and yet haven't any means to make it grow. I watered and fed and tended as much as I knew how, but the waiting? That is hard - both in the garden that sits in my own back yard and the one I tend in my heart.

This heart-garden of mine has felt weedy, my hands dirty for the digging. I had been discouraged that the passing of years seems to have left some areas stunted and slow when I feel they should be pretty and light. At the very least, there should be some sustainable fruit.

However, through the course of many events last week- long walks with The Mister, the reading of God's Word, lunch with a friend, listening to the ladies in my small group - I'm encouraged. 

I cannot understand why the dusty brown seeds of my life have been set in pleasant places, but I do know this: set before an unknown future and surrounded by good friends and a loving community, I need only to bloom where I have been planted; focusing on Him who orders all things in this world and yet knows me better than I even know myself.  

I will not be disappointed.

..."Then you will know that I am the LORD; 

those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Isaiah 49:23

Breakfast Blogging Friday Favorites

Ah! Friday. Such a good day.

This morning I've taken my breakfast outside to the red chairs.

We have had an uneventful week. I went running with my friend early yesterday morning and while we were out there was something in the air that was so familiar. I don't know if it was the humidity or the smell of morning green that hung in the air, but it was decidedly summerish.

I came home and cut open the first watermelon of the season.

Yes, summer is coming...




It was delightfully sweet. I think it might be my favorite fruit of summer.

Speaking of delightful, I've been meaning to post this tree that is blooming in our back yard. I don't know what it is, but the blossom just makes me happy.





The picture makes it look like they are huge, but one of those flowers is about the size of a thumb nail... So, so delicate.





I think my favorite part is the faintest brushing of pink on the backside of each petal...





Or maybe my favorite part is how they open up with their faces pointed down, so those of us standing underneath can appreciate the fullness of their beauty.

I am so grateful that the blossom in the yard each take turn to showcase His glory. I just couldn't handle it if they all bloomed at once...

Everyday I look forward to going outside to see what new flower will be awake. This morning the rhododendron are happy and light. They are my favorite front-yard flower.





We've had a bit of a "creature" problem here in the Little Yellow House on the Hill. We had mice in the garage, snakes in the garden...





And now we have bats in the attic (we'll be taking care of that problem this weekend... And by "we" I mean The Mister.) But my favorite woodland insect this week was the newly hatched Luna Moth who rested on our front porch while his wings got ready for flight.





I love the Luna Moth... Heartier, hairier and heavier than its cousin the butterfly, but beautiful just the same...

It's time to go get my favorite kids out of bed, so I will close with my favorite quote from this weeks devotional:

There is freedom in dependence. It enables each of us to accept our vulnerability. We no longer have to hide in shame or self-sufficiency. You and I can choose to lean on our Father amid a full range of disastrous and delightful events, praying, "Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me" (Psalm 70:1).