Boo!

Jamie and I are going to go to a grown up Halloween Party tonight. We are going as Shrek and Fiona!! Oh the costumes are sooooo funny. We are like a couple of silly kids giggling with excitement and anticipation. Things were a bit rough for us for a few months and this feels really really good to be able to share this fun and anticipation as a couple. I can't wait to share pictures with everyone!

Tomorrow we are going to my sister's house and going to see Mom and Harry too. Going to take the boys to a pumpkin patch near Angel's and have some fun carving them.

My weekend is promising to be loads of fun and I hope yours will be as well!

Take care,
Tina

Finally!

I have tried for the last couple of years to become a "runner". I have never really felt comfortable actually saying that I am a runner, more along the lines of I run or I'm trying to become a runner or I like to run sometimes and even I ran " x-amount". Finally, with my efforts over the last few months I am comfortable saying "I am a runner". My inner definition is that I am capable and comfortable of running for a minimum of 15 minutes and a minimum of a mile. And I enjoy the actual run itself. I am starting to run less in the shape of a "C" all hunched over, eyes on the ground and more of a shuffle than a run. I find I am standing taller, head up, butt tucked and able to actually look around at the passing view. Shoulders squared. I think this is partly my voice in my head telling me to stand straight but, also, my confidence is growing in my running. I no longer feel like I am a "fake runner" but can say with confidence, I AM A RUNNER!

Farmer's Market Love

Spent a wonderful hour at the Farmer's Mkt this morning. Came home with a wonderful haul again. Apples, pears, banana peppers, red & yellow peppers, garlic and some onions. I will be canning apple sauce and apple butter, pear butter and hot banana peppers. The red & yellow bell peppers will be sliced and frozen. I am so loving how much local produce I am putting up for the winter :)

Happy Weekend!
Tina

READY...SET.....GO!!!

It's Socktober once again! Kristin Kapur has her Mystery Knit Along starting today on Ravalry as well as her blog ThroughTheLoops. I have my yarn ready, needles ready and the first clue printed out. Now to just find a bit of time and some peace and quiet and I am good to go :).

Happy Knitting!
Tina

9/28/2010
BUZZZZZ...

I have been reading Novella Carpenter's Farm City The education of an Urban Farmer and my mind has been racing since I started it. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities in my own little area of land. I actually floated the idea of beekeeping to the family and have placed a call for more information. This year's garden was a succes and definate plans are in the works to enlarge and expand for next year. I feel like my mind is just buzzing with ideas lately.

On the knitting front, I have both sides of the front as well as the back of my Slouchy Cardigan done and am working on the sleeves now. I also have a pair of socks on the needles and my needles and yarn ready to go for Kristin Kapur's mystery sock knit a long starting on Friday.

I love feeling so creative :)

Take care and Happy Fall!
Tina

Walking & life lessons

On one of our recent walks it occurred to me that taking a walk with Darius is a whole lot like living life with Darius. See, when you take a walk with Darius you have no choice but to go at HIS pace. Just like life. Now, we always are going forward, eye on our goal, which with the walking is getting to Aunt Deb's house and in life is getting to spend some time with Aunt Deb. Sometimes we walk slowly, sometimes more quickly. You might hear us sing, and just as easily might hear him griping at me and telling me to stop being so bossy-again..life reflected! With life, having him grow and develop at a slower pace has really helped me to relish the time he is in NOW, the progress he is making and instead of zooming through life's milestones we have been able to enjoy them at a more leisurely pace. Sometimes, I'll admit a bit grudgingly and with some longing to be on to the next. Now with walking, again, the slower pace has really helped us to be able to talk along the way, enjoying our progress, seeing the neighbors and our neighborhood. We stop and smell the flowers, touch all the different bushes, fences, learn our safety lessons (stop, look left, right, left again-ok safe to cross)and enjoy all the richness and textures of life in our neighborhood along the way.

I'm blessed that God has given me this gift of a child, teaching me to enjoy the here and the now, the slow but steady progress of both life and walking.

Weekend cooking goodness

Sorry...no pictures to accompany the blog today.

Saturday I made smitten kitchen's Tangy Beef Brisket-YUUMMM-for Sunday's dinner. Here is the link-so good! http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/tangy-spiced-brisket/


This is a 2 day deal so be sure to keep in mind when you go to prepare it.

To accompany such wonderful meaty goodness I made egg noodles from scratch that sent husband and boys over the EDGE. Who knew egg noodles were so easy? I just did a search for egg noodles on allrecipes.com and used it. I was being lazy so I just plopped everything into the Kitchen Aid with the dough hook and let it do the work. This also takes a bit of thinking ahead because you need to let your noodles air dry before cooking.

AND-just a fun little tip and a way I incorporate my quilting and cooking-I washed up an old quilting ruler that I never used and used that and my trusty pizza cutter to cut the noodles up and it went quicker than quick!