there and back again

what we did:
taught k to play backgammon
walked in the woods
worked on my firestoking technique
slept til the sun rose (every morning except one)
ate on my grandmother's petit point china
worked on needlepoint
watched e make a perfect pie crust
listened to cbc radio and an audiobook of "the goose girl"
read

what we read:
a homemade life
the ice shirt
julie and julia
anne of the island
rapunzel's revenge
lots of ladybird books
the globe and mail

what we ate:
turkey
oatmeal
roasted parsnips and carrots grown locally
lots of oranges
pumpkin pudding
tourtiere
person in the snow (a dessert of k's invention involving chocolate and whipping cream)
old dutch potato chips
scones

thirds

:: third sunday in advent ::
:: third night of hanukkah ::
:: third annual neighborhood progressive dinner ::

happy holiday.

whipped shortbread

the girls are out early every day this week. i thought if we made a cookie a day we'd have a nice selection to take up to the cottage for the holidays. and it's raining, so my initial idea of some hiking during this extra daylight together, has given way to baking.



my mom's whipped shortbread

1 1/2 cups softened butter
3/4 cup icing sugar (sifted)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
nonpareils (who knew they had such a history?)

::whip together butter and icing sugar until creamy and light::add flour and cornstarch and mix fully::roll into a smallish ball::dip into red and green nonpareils::place on cookie sheet with silpat or parchment::flatten slightly with a fork (my mom never did this but it is k's favourite cookie making task so we add it in whenever we can)::bake in a 300 degree oven for about 25 minutes (or until just turning golden at the edges::enjoy with a cup of tea::

makes about 3 dozen

ready steady go

lights


nutcracker


tree


holiday portrait (outtake)


it certainly 'tis the season. how was your weekend?

long way home

we decided on adventure. the girls and i remained at the cabin an extra week while d had to head back to work. we missed him. but were excited at the possibilities. it was a magical week. and then it had to end. we set-forth on a new trail. headed to portland. then corvallis. (so many good people in this part of the world!) darted off our beaten path and on to newport. the coast. brookings. then california. redwoods. eureka! berkeley. and home.

i hope that they remember it. that we sit back years from now and talk about it. i know it impacted me more than i imagined.



















i should really write down the story about the cat. our time with amazing friends. and The Gathering Together Farm. highlights. but I doubt I will. school is about to start and I need to leave my summer vacation cocoon and return to the real world. like it or not. and I am revelling in the "lowlights". does that make sense? it has been an amazing summer. and I am grateful.

seaside

walks in the woods

seeing stars

here

and having the time of our lives.

i truly believe that we are connected by unknown forces to certain geographical places. and this island is ours.

see you soon.

(lots more pics over on flickr)

getting here

farm :: day 1

more pics here