{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...A Very Good Place to Start

Nick's grandfather, Pop-Pop, gave us his old organ when we moved into the new house a year ago and it has provided hours and hours of entertainment for us and anyone who visits. It also came with a music book featuring Rogers' and Hammerstein's best including our personal favorite, The Sound of Music.
Julie Andrews is an idol to little girls...and apparently to big boys too (Dad loves her, too).
Today, while working in the kitchen, I heard MaryJane singing, "Edelweiss." I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my camera. 

My Peeps

 We had six little ladies join our family on March 18th. They were born on St. Patrick's day and were a mere 18 hours old when we got them. MaryJane named them all colorful names on the way home from the tractor store where we purchased them. Beautiful, Sticker, Flower, Goldfur...etc...when I told her that the names should be unanimous...ones that all 3 of us could agree on, she told me, "I named them already. Please be quiet so I can listen to them peeping." She is a master of distraction.

So furry and sweet---We finally got her consent to reconsider the names and came up with, what I think. are perfect.
3 red pullets named Ginny (after Ginny Weasley), Ginger, and Bernadette and 3 golden comets named Lottie, Goldfur (we let her keep that one), and Mrs. Norris.

I've noticed some interesting behavior among the chicks. Those old sayings, "pecking order" and "rules the roost," really do have truth in their origins. As you can see Mrs. Norris (above center) had exerted her power since we brought her home.  

Now at 4 1/2 weeks old they have changed appearances. The gold comets are developing beautiful cream puff color feathers and the red hens are a rusty auburn. They still are a little frightened by quick movements or loud noises, but they like to be pet. They rub their backs under my hand like a cat, they allow Nick to rub their beaks, and MaryJane to pick them up and hold them...not for as long as she'd like, of course.

They know to peep at the top of their lungs when they need me. They stick their heads though the poultry wire and yell, "MOM--FEED ME!" --that's the translation I get. And they've also learned the neat trick of teamwork to push the wire netting off so they can perch on the barrel's edges...even if it's at 3 in the morning. Nick built the coop yesterday and I think the babies will be making the transport outdoors this week.

{this moment}

My Dad blowing out his candles on his 70th birthday

~

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words (usually)- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Canada is for Lovers

 We did things a bit chronologically different in this family. I guess this is to be expected considering I had the baby before we even met!--correction, met up again--
We bought our house in May, we got married in the back yard in June, had our wedding celebration in September at my best friend's barn in September, then took our honeymoon to Montreal in February. Our wedding has been stretched into a year long celebration completely unintentionally (the intention was to stretch the bill but it has worked out for the best).
We had the best Indian Summer day in September. It was sunny and in the 70's all day long. We feasted on roast pig, drank wine, listened to friends play music and sing, and watched the kids chase chickens, feed donkeys, and play in the rocks.
It was a beautiful day in the Hudson Valley and we couldn't have wanted for more.

Then we chose to leave our cold winter weather for even colder winter weather in the dead of February. We took a 6 hour road trip to Montreal. 

In New York, we've had a ton of snow this winter. Everyone I know has cabin fever. No one does anything outdoors unless your talking winter sports---skiing, snowboarding, --I haven't even heard of anyone I know going ice skating this winter. But in Canada, they think differently. It was frigid, in the teens without the windchill factor during the sunny part of the day. But did that keep everyone indoors? No, they decided to have an outdoor mid-winter festival/highlights festival.

Layers...and lots of them are key. We were ill equipped upon arrival, but after my furry hat purchase (the best $20 I ever spent) and a couple of pairs of new mittens, we enjoyed the beauty of the city and even the cold!

 It was very romantic. It seemed we'd traveled to mini - France just across the state border. The food was excellent. J'aime des crêpes ... plus s'il vous plaît.
And the natives couldn't have been more sincere in their warm hospitality.

I loved it so much, I may want to move! Don't get me wrong, the Hudson Valley is my home and in my humble opinion the best spot on earth, but we never know what our future holds.

Post Christmas Mini Detox

My thoughtful husband bought me a juicer for Christmas this year. Something I've wanted for 10 years, but couldn't justify spending that much money.
For the entire week before I had pigging out on cookies, artichoke and spinach dip loaded with cheeses, bacon, cream, butter, and all the other rich foods that Christmas wouldn't be the same without. I also felt very tired, but just chalked it up to all the demanding activities that holiday entails.

The day after Christmas, I decided to put it to good use by embarking on a week long mini detox.
I bundled up and drove over to Nature's Pantry before the storm hit. I wanted to buy organic vegetables and fruit just for this week even if they were more expensive, the benefits would outweigh the cost.
I was surprised and delighted to find that the majority of the produce was the same price or cheaper than the pesticide laden stuff from the supermarket. Some local, some not, but definitely a thriftier alternative to Shoprite or Price Chopper organics whose prices are nearly doubled. They have a small variety, mostly root vegetables, mushrooms, kale, cabbage. Nick and I have already made a resolution for the new year to strive to eat more local produce even if that means sacrificing our favorites because they're out of season.
I was also amazed at how many people were shopping there, and during a snowstorm! I met two women from South Africa (with beautiful accents if I may add) that were organic vegans, shopping in the bulk section. We had a chat about how much cheaper the organic bulk grains were here than any packaged non-organic version in the supermarket. Who knew this little oasis existed right here in Newburgh?

So I stocked up on quinoa, millet, beans, farro, barley, and a little of everything from the produce section.
I try to make my juices part green, part purple, part fruit for this week. This one has wheat grass, kale, golden beet (ran out of the regular ones), pear and a bit of ginger. Then I stir in some probiotics for good measure. MaryJane and Nick prefer just the beet and apple/pear juice, a bit sweeter and more palatable, but they follow our home's golden rule, "That you must try everything, if you like it have more, if not, you try it again some other time."

Then I made us a millet bowl with black beans and vegetables . Very hearty and very satisfying.

 Most meals have been meat free this week (we did have an amazing spaghetti squash and meatballs Sunday night for dinner, still counts right?) and loaded with whole grains and fresh/raw produce.

MILLET

3/4 cup millet

1 1/2 cups black beans soaked and already prepared

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

Kosher salt

3 cups water

VEGETABLES

4 shiitake mushrooms (2 ounces), sliced 1/4 inch thick

1/2 bunch red kale

1 cup shredded red cabbage

2 scallion, thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

 Pinch of salt

3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

3 TBSP cider vinegar

Directions

1. Place millet, black beans, and ginger in a small saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and water. Bring to a boil, stir once, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
2. Saute shiitakes in a wok for 3 minutes. Add kale and scallions and cook for 4 to 6 minutes more. Remove from heat.
3. Add 3 TBSP cider vinegar. Season with a dash of salt.
4. Transfer millet to bowls and garnish with sauteed and crunchy raw red cabbage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (SERVES 5)