Earthy Crunchy

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this moment

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Inspired by Soulemama.

Happy weekend to you!

homemade broth

Homemade broth is really good. 

I've thought a lot about making my own broth before but haven't gotten up the energy until recently.  Why make your own broth?  Let's see.... because the store bought broth smells something like watered down cardboard and doesn't taste much better? 

I think this is just the perfect time of year to be in the kitchen, cooking and making my home smell like garlic and vegetables brewing.  I spend a lot of time in the kitchen anyway!

This is the recipe I used from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone.  It's so easy.

1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery ribs, 1 bunch of green onions, 1 TB olive oil, 1 TB nutritional yeast, 8 cloves garlic peeled and smashed, 8 parsley branches, 6 thyme sprigs, 2 bay leaves and salt to taste.

Scrub and chop the veggies roughly, heat oil in soup pot.  Add veggies, yeast, garlic and herbs.  Cook over high heat for 5-10 minutes stirring often.  The more color they get, the richer the flavor.  Add 2 tsp salt and 2 quarts of cold water and bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.  Strain.

hand sewing

The new year has begun and we have gotten back into the groove of homeschooling.  It's getting easier all the time.  I trust my intuition more and I've relaxed just enough to make the experience a lot more enjoyable.  Yes, I still have my moments when I question my sanity but overall, we are having an wonderful time together.  

One of our weekly activities is the homeschool co-op.  It's been a godsend.  I'm getting to know other moms and I'm feeling less like a fish out of water.  I may even admit to you that we're a homeschool family.  Before, I've been reluctant to put myself in that category.

So, life is full of activity with our homeschool community.  I've agreed to co-teach the handsewing class which suprised me.  But, Solomon is in my class and it's like a bunch of ladies sitting around knitting.  It's so meditative for them. 

Eli ended up in my class too.  And although he is technically not old enough, I think he was able to keep up with the rest of the kids.  He came home and announced that he was no long a pre-schooler!  Wtih two older siblings, life moves at a faster pace for this guy.

When we came home last week, the boys wanted to do some more sewing.  It's kind of addictive.

How could I say no?  We pulled out the basket of felt and got to work on some birds.  This week we are working on some pencil holders, inspired by the books  Hand-Stitched Felt by Kata Golda and Rae Grant's book Homemade Fun .  This is such a fun time of year to be making puffed hearts or bunnies don't you think?

Are you getting into the groove of this new year?  Tell me!

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.   A simple, special moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Happy Weekend!

awesome!!

I don't know why I'm feeling like posting so much lately.  I just feel like I want to so, I'm going with it.   A new camera helps out a lot.  I've been struggling with why I blog and if I should do it at all.   I will someday write it all down and share with you. 

But right now I want to show you these pictures I took of us sledding this weekend.  It's so nice to have a motivated husband, I swear.  If it was up to me we'd hang out in our pajamas all weekend!  I do believe that's why a family needs both parents!  When one feels like crawling in a den and sleeping away the winter, the other can say, "Let's go sledding!!"

I love my new camera and can actually take multiple shots every second which is really fun to play with.  Did you know that I had to time it just right in order to maybe get one action shot with my other camera?  That was crazy making right there.  

I showed my kids these shots this morning and they were giggling like crazy.   I hope you like them too.  But if not, I guess you just had to be there!

We found a spot up at Sky Tavern (for all you Reno folks).

WIPE-OUT!!

 

And next...this is what made the kids laugh like crazy!

HOLD ON HONEY!!!

I got some good shots of Eli wiping out.  He then got up and yelled, "That was AWESOME!!!"

 

 

possibilities

On weekend mornings you can find the whole Pease bunch huddled in the big bed.  I think that's the way it is for everyone isn't it?  We cuddle and we talk about what we want to do that day.  This morning I had the pleasure of sleeping in.   That was sure nice.

As I was laying there,  I could hear the kids out with Jonathan talking and playing.   Then I heard Eli coming down the hall screaming "I'm going to show mom!"

He wanted to show me how he wrote his name.  With an extra "H" for horse,  "T" for toucan,  3 "S's" for Solomon and a "D" for dolphin.  The letters were all "holding hands".    This has been a blessing, having Eli so interested in letters.  Except for one thing.  Solomon has been slow to learn his letters and read.  I've been worried but sure that he would learn them when he was absolutely ready.  You may remember when I brought Solomon home to learn a few years ago. 

Anyway, I mentioned that "D" is also the first letter in the word dragon.  Well Eli thought that was the cat's pajamas.  I can't tell you how much he loves his pet dragon.  Then Solomon slipped away and came back with his clipboard.  He had written the word "dragon" on the paper!  For the first time he actually sounded out a word and wrote it down.  I tried not to be too excited but as I'm writing this, I feel the emotions welling up inside me.  It's been a long haul.  Lots of worrying, lots of movement therapy and drives to California for his cranial sacral therapy.

What I have been seeing lately is Solomon being proud to show Eli the things he knows.   Solomon is a very helpful, patient and sweet big brother.  I guess it's all going to work out the way it was supposed to work out.  

I can't wait to see how this all unfolds in the next couple of weeks.  So fitting that the new year is here with all its possibilites!

Happy New Year to you!!  xoxo

hello snow!

It finally snowed in earnest today.  A welcome arrival for the kids and our dog who happens to dig the snow.   Lately, we've been wondering whether it was winter or spring!   I watched today as the temperature went from 32 degrees to 27 degrees in a matter of 30 minutes.  The snow was coming down in huge swirls.

This little guy loves the snow and came in and out several times to get a "treat" before going back to the door to ring the bell.  He's totally got us whooped!

At least today, I'm pretty sure it's winter!

traditions

One of our annual holiday happenings is being a part of the Christmas pageant.     It's been such a meaningful tradition for the kids to be a part of.  And just this year the boys have really gotten into the whole thing.    Amelia has played the part of narrator for the past three seasons and  I've been so proud.  I  would feel so nervous standing up in front of the whole congregation and setting the pace for the service.  But Amelia is as calm as a cucumber and loves the whole experience.  I told her it's a gift to be comfortable talking in front of a crowd. 

Solomon played the parts of Zacharias, a king and a shepherd.   He enjoyed playing the part of Zacharias the most because he was able to hone in on his acting skills;  pretending to lose his voice,  writing on his tablet and finally getting his voice back with a big laugh.

Eli played a "friendly beast".  It's something between a cow and a sheep but he prefered to think of himself as a dragon because that's all he thinks about these days.   It was a really fun Christmas Eve. 

This season is all about traditions for us because I know that's what they'll remember.  Traditions are what creates peace during this hectic season, I believe.   Why does it have to be so hectic?!   I've been tweaking what works, changing things around or not doing something just this year in order to preserve my sanity.   This year we decided to buy a tree instead of going to cut one down but we also made  some incredible cheese enchiladas on Christmas Eve that I would like to do again next year.   Everything we sent out to grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends was handmade by us.  Generally,  I was able to keep things more simple this year.

I hope you've been having a wonderful holiday season full of simple things you enjoy!

I finally got my camera

and hopped into a warm spot to read the manual.

I'm usually being followed by the dog and my kids.

But, that's just the way I like it.

Because I can practice taking pictures of a very enthusiastic karate expert.