beauty that moves

We have a winner!

Good morning! Popping in to let you know the giveaway winners have been announced and can be found at the bottom of this post. Thank you everyone for entering, that was really fun. I won't be on the computer much for the next several days, but I do have something scheduled to post for early next week if all goes according to plan, technically speaking.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for stopping by here as you do. xo

This Week In My Kitchen :: Blog Hop

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

*     *     *     *     *

 

• This week flew by all too fast. My mom was here (and dad a bit too), so things felt a little different... less picking up the camera, once again. But we ate well! It's been hot hot hot (and incredibly humid), so dinners have largely been hearty salads that I can prepare slowly, early in the day, and pull from the fridge at dinnertime.

• Last year was the first in a long time that hunting season for Adam did not result in a freezer full of venison. This was leaving our freezer a little empty and we finally remedied that by purchasing a 1/4 cow and a freezer full of roaster chickens from Baldwin Brook Farm. We were even able to meet our cow a few weeks back and she was a spectacular animal with the glossiest coat I've ever seen on a cow. Last weekend I made some breakfast sausage patties for the freezer with some of the ground beef.

• My favorite cookbook for the summer I believe is going to be The Four Season Farm Gardener's Cookbook. I love it so much as the recipes call for ingredients that are growing outside my door or can be easily sourced locally. Our cool, mealtime salads this week were found here.

• I think in total we've put about five gallons of strawberries in the freezer from our garden so daily smoothies have been enjoyed by all. Some days are strawberry smoothies and other days are green smoothies. It's the best of times.

 

Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties (beef or pork)

• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tsp dried sage (freshly dried is best)
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/8 tsp ground clove
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 2 pounds ground pastured beef or pork

 

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well until everything is well incorporated. Refrigerate for 24 hours to combine flavors. Form into a log, freeze for 1-2 hours until it is firm enough to slice, then slice into patties.
2. Freeze patties or cook on medium to medium-low heat until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side. 

 

 

Each day I find myself snapping a picture or two in the kitchen - a pile of ingredients, a table waiting for us to gather around, a sink full of soapy dishes, a cup of tea, dinner as it comes out of the oven - simple, everyday moments in the kitchen. These photos serve as a reminder of days gone by and as encouragement to carry on in this busy kitchen of ours when inspiration is lacking.

Every Thursday morning I'll post my photos from the week, words or recipes optional. Just glimpses into my kitchen and you're invited to do the same!

 

It's simple to join in:

• On your blog, post photos taken in your kitchen throughout the week.
• Words aren't necessary, your photos will tell the the story. Some of us enjoy adding a few thoughts to accompany the images... the choice is yours. 
• Feel free to grab the brief description at the top of this post, or add a few words of your own to explain the project.)
• Link back to this post so your readers can visit This Week In My Kitchen and join in. 
• Come back here and link up your current post (not your main blog) so we can all visit your kitchen!
• Join me every Thursday or the occasional Thursday if that works better for you.
• Please be sure to only link up if you are participating in this series. Thank you!

 

I look forward to visiting your kitchens! 

 

Summer Sewing (and a giveaway!)

Last July was a rough one for me. A bad case of poison ivy left my hands immobilized for much of the month, and the extreme heat... well, it's not my favorite. I made a promise to myself that I'd plan ahead for this July, heading outside into the heat only before 8am and after 5pm, whenever possible. So, what to do with the rest of my time?

Well, I decided to have a little Christmas in July crafting party. Not to lump myself with a consumer culture that puts up holiday decorations in October, I'm just thinking of this as a month of making, if you will. Small gifts, mostly sewn, that can be tucked away into my slowly developing gift closet. Maybe some tote bags, coaster sets, potholders, lap quilts, table runners, fabric gift bags (more for using than gifting - and now is the time of year to find wintry fabric patterns on clearance), prayer flag sets, jammies and a few skirts. Okay, the skirts are for me. And there will be knitting too, because if we're going to have a couple of big knitted projects under the tree then I best get to it during these quiet summer afternoons.

One thing I have going for me is that I'm the slowest person to make it through a tv series (still on season 2 of Lark Rise to Candleford), so I envision knitting while catching up on some shows. As for sewing, that is a perfect activity to do while perched in front of a fan, and so I will.

In Summer Soul Camp I'll be teaching a tutorial for making what I have come to love as the perfect market tote. It's a design I came up with a few years ago and has proven to be my go to bag for groceries. Handles that slip over the shoulder (am I the only one that tries to get all the groceries into the house in one trip?), and a nice boxy shape make it the exact style I prefer.

Yesterday, on the first of the month, I kicked off Christmas in July by sewing up a market bag and a stack of fabric gift bags for the holidays. (I like to fold the gift bags over and tie with a ribbon, as seen in this post.)

I thought it would be fun to send these first creations out into the world as a gift to you! How does that sound? I'll draw two names on Friday and announce the winners here... if you'd like a chance to win just go ahead and leave a comment.

Happy July, friends!

*   *   *   *   *

Comments are now closed! And the winners are...

Sarah said:
Aack! Too much prettiness in one post....love your fabrics :)


Jeanne Teed said:
I love the idea of these bags and especially like the Christmas in July theme! Last year my children held a surprise birthday party for me in July and made it a Christmas in July party with all things Christmas. This year we are doing it again but for no other occasion than to celebrate Christmas in July!!!

Congratulations! Check your email for a note form me. :)

Thanks everyone, that was fun!

This Week In My Kitchen :: Blog Hop

In case you missed my post late yesterday afternoon, registration is now open for my new workshop, Summer Soul Camp. Please stop by for all the details. Now, onto our kitchen blog hop... xo

*     *     *     *     *

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen.

A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

*     *     *     *     *

• Please tell me you all had something exciting happening in your kitchens this week because my camera came up a little short! I think it was part vacation mode... cheese and crackers with olives and smoked salmon - again - anyone?

• Every day now, herbs, fruit, or vegetables are brought into the kitchen and need to be processed for the freezer, dried for later use, or gobbled up on the spot. It's a pretty sweet life, these not too hot, abundant, early days of summer.

• I'm making a list to go to the grocery store this morning and am realizing if I just had a dairy cow I probably wouldn't need to go at all. Ha!

• Do you ever roast carrots? I had this batch set too low in the oven so they burned a little, but we love them. And big bags of organic carrots from the market are relatively inexpensive and store for a long time. Slice into rounds, lay single layer on a heavy duty baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, put a few dollops of ghee on top, and bake at 425-450 for about 30-40 minutes, turning every 15 minutes or so. You could get fancy and add honey and rosemary near the end too... so good. 

• I made a promise that I would not make any jam this year. Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce however, yes please! These jars were cooling and headed to the freezer (recipe from 30 Day Vegan).

• My favorite method for roasting pastured chicken is low and slow. Here is a good primer if you're in need of instructions.

• Some of you let me know that the recipe for Tuna Macaroni Salad never actually posted. I'll fix that later today, I'm off to take Emily for a haircut right now (must have not made it to publish during one of Typepad's recent outages).

 

 

Each day I find myself snapping a picture or two in the kitchen - a pile of ingredients, a table waiting for us to gather around, a sink full of soapy dishes, a cup of tea, dinner as it comes out of the oven - simple, everyday moments in the kitchen. These photos serve as a reminder of days gone by and as encouragement to carry on in this busy kitchen of ours when inspiration is lacking.

Every Thursday morning I'll post my photos from the week, words or recipes optional. Just glimpses into my kitchen and you're invited to do the same!

 

It's simple to join in:

• On your blog, post photos taken in your kitchen throughout the week.
• Words aren't necessary, your photos will tell the the story. Some of us enjoy adding a few thoughts to accompany the images... the choice is yours. 
• Feel free to grab the brief description at the top of this post, or add a few words of your own to explain the project.)
• Link back to this post so your readers can visit This Week In My Kitchen and join in. 
• Come back here and link up your current post (not your main blog) so we can all visit your kitchen!
• Join me every Thursday or the occasional Thursday if that works better for you.
• Please be sure to only link up if you are participating in this series. Thank you!

 

I look forward to visiting your kitchens! 

 

Summer Soul Camp :: Online Retreat

 

Begins July 21, 2014

~ 10 days ~

Registration is now open!

$39.00

 (See the bottom of this page for info on bringing a friend for free!)

 

This year I planted shelling peas in the garden simply because I thought it would be romantic to sit under a shade tree and spend a few afternoons slipping peas out of their crisp little pods. A pea shelling meditation. It seems only fitting then, that on this very morning, the day that I open registration to Summer Soul Camp, our first harvest of shelling peas was picked. You see, the vision I have of my pea shelling experience is the very essence of what I hope for this workshop to be.

Think of Summer Soul Camp as the place where old fashioned living meets a modern day desire to slow down, be in the moment, and enjoy life's simple gifts.

If you enjoyed Hibernate, you'll find this workshop to be the perfect summertime compliment. Summer is fleeting, always gone too soon - gathering for ten blissful days feels like the perfect length of time. 

Summer Soul Camp is a self-paced, ten day, online retreat - a place to celebrate the light and warmth that summertime brings. A place to savor the sunshine, linger into the evening, welcome creativity, and allow time for stillness and spontaneity.

Every summer has a story, perhaps this retreat is a chapter for your summer story.

Each day of our retreat, there will be content delivered through our private class website in the form of beautiful mini e-books and videos. In addition, there will be an interactive community to share ideas and experience, if you choose.

You will pick and choose the projects, prompts, recipes and inspiration that speak to you, there is no need to do every little thing offered. Simply being with us in a way that fulfills you, is perfect.

 

A peek inside Summer Soul Camp...

• Market Bag Tutorial (the only market bag pattern you'll ever need)
• Setting Up "Camp"
• Create a Summer Inspired Vision Wall
• Herbal Healing From the Garden 
• Hand Painted Prayer Flag Tutorial
• Garden Bounty Summer Cocktails
• Whole Food S'mores (because it's camp!)
• Nourishing Summer Snacks
• Garden to Table Summer Menu
• Seasonal Essays, Photography and Writing Prompts
• and more!

If you've taken workshops with me before, you know I love inviting friends to contribute their gifts. Susan Cote is a local friend that I've known for over ten years and she has one of the most powerful, generous, loving spirits of any woman I have ever met. We've taught children's cooking classes together and have circled with other women around food and nourishment. I'm thrilled she will be sharing her wisdom on Herbal Healing From the Garden in this workshop.

Summer Soul Camp is filled with ideas to help you connect deeply to the beauty of the season. A place where it feels perfectly normal, encouraged even, to linger under a shade tree and shell peas all afternoon.

 

If you feel ready to live this chapter of your summer story, than please join us.

I'd love to attend camp with you!

Begins July 21, 2014

~ 10 days ~

Registration is now open!

$39.00

Bring a Friend! If you register by Sunday, June 29th, you may invite a guest along at no extra charge. Register as normal, then please email me at soulsummercamp@gmail.com with your guest’s full name and email address by 7/2 so I can add them to the roster. All guests will be contacted with their own welcome letter by 7/7.