Sunday, October 21, 2012

Here Comes the Rain

The clouds have blanketed the Shire keeping it cool today. The house is cozy; filled with candlelight and the smell of apple crisp baking. I set up our alter for those that have passed on top of the piano which is always and emotional experience. Touching each item to carefully place them and remembering a voice, a smell. We are having family dinner night and everyone is bringing a dish to share. We've missed this tradition and have decided to get it going again. The kids especially love the rhythm  of gathering around the table with as many family members that can make it and sharing a meal and stories. You get so disconnected so quickly. Busy with our own lives, we forget to show up for one another. In my little house, we crowd together which makes the laughter that much more contagious, and we remember just how lucky we are. It may not be perfect, in fact it's quite messy at times, but we are family and that is just the best.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Grandma's One Bowl Apple Cake

I remember my grandma accidentally putting soy sauce instead of vanilla in this recipe. She was so embarrassed and having witnessed her do it, she knew I would never let it go! Hope she is chuckling as I write this. I love you grandma and miss you so.

One Bowl Apple Cake

Preheat oven to 350
Grease and flour a square pan or round cake pan

In a bowl mix:
2 cups chopped apples ( I leave the skin on)
1egg
1 cup sugar

Mix in:
1/4 cup oil

Mix in:
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup walnuts

Bake for about 40-45 minutes
Cut into squares when cooled and dust with powdered sugar
HAPPY FALL!


Monday, October 8, 2012

Apples




Wearing Michael's gear to celebrate the Wolfpack win!

Molly eating her apple dumpling from the bake shop at Larsen's

Many tears after his mama said no (too cute, though!)

The second oldest business in the country, right next door is the 1st
A beautiful day yesterday, we picked two boxes of apples with our friends and walked around old historic Placerville before heading home. It finally feels like fall with our apples simmering away on the stove. The kids used the apple peeler/corer/slicer making little apple slinkys to fill our big cooking pot. Apple sauce and apple butter are on their way!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Kind of Calm

Today was the first time where I actually questioned if I'd done enough. After an early doctors appointment, my energy wasn't as up as it has been for school. I found myself trying to make up for the lack of energy by, of course, doing MORE. Crazy, but that's how it went today. I could go down the list of things we did but I feel like that's just me trying to prove I'm worthy to whoever ends up reading this which means I really haven't accepted that I did enough. OK, I did enough! Now I can let it go knowing I've done my best. Molly's at her singing class, Oliver's playing football with his friends and I'm enjoying the change of light that's filtering through the drying grape leaves...just relaxing. Tomorrow is a new day with fresh possibility and to know that there will be days that won't be so inspiring, they'll just be. To just be, it is good.