my tribe

Lately I've been thinking of being part of a tribe.  Wikipedia says, Many anthropologists used the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship .  How I've been loving the word kinship.  In my last post I was sharing the idea about small gatherings with friends, such experiences are lasting and precious.  

Something in me is changing since turning 30. I want to face some of my fears, I worry less about what others think, I'm more at peace with my body and I want to bond more with people I love.  Life is becoming such a rich experience.  I have a husband and three lovely girls, it takes time for such things to sink in, I'm a mother!  

This photo stood out to me when I found it.  It says so much about what I value in life, what I desire.  I see myself as the one with the red and grey sweater being a part of love that knows no age and values strength expressed through vulnerability and caring.  

A few years ago I heard a woman talk about her tribe, a group of maybe five or six women comprising of artists, authors, maybe chefs (hopefully one of those in mine) mothers and women who know who they are.  They all bring to the table their unique story, their love for one another and a way to fully express themselves in this life because they each have a sounding board thus creating a way to ground themselves. 

I know if I spend a few hours on my friend's couch (Beckie, I love that you live only two minutes from my house) just being myself whatever that looks like at the time I come home more peaceful and excited for what that looks like.  I welcome the tribe into my life and I realize that blogging has been the beginning of that for me.   

we are young and hungry

kinfolk

This morning I'm conscious of simple, beautiful moments. I was feeding Nora in bed and Nala came in for a cuddle.  She gave me a kiss and while stroking my hair said "mom, you have beautiful hair."  I feel so blessed!

I love Kinfolk, they are about simple, intimate, and real gatherings. Their manifesto speaks to me

 a guide for small gatherings 

Kinfolk is a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings. We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends, not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza, that anchors our relationships and energizes us. We have come together to create Kinfolk as our collaborative way of advocating the natural approach to entertaining that we love.

Every element of Kinfolk—the features, photography, and general aesthetics—are consistent with the way we feel entertaining should be: simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived. Kinfolk is the marriage of our appreciation for art and design and our love for spending time with family and friends.

ribboned asparagus salad

said the whale

Said the Whale-the light is you

curry dinner

I wanted to add this photo to my 'sisters' post, some days they are so adorable with each other:)

 I've been craving Indian food lately and because my good friend Michelle, who lives in Victoria, makes the yummiest Indian food I've had I went to her for recipes.  Then, at aquafit last night I was chatting with my friend Beckie who said that she and her sister made their mom an amazing Indian dinner on the same day that I made mine, great minds think alike:)  She told me about a salad they made that I absolutely must try as well as a cracker that tastes amazing. So next time the craving hits I've got more to add, yum! (when I make those I'll post recipe and cracker brand)
Here is the food I made:
I started with Michelle's basic curry recipe and then went from there.


Basic Indian Curry
Saute one onion in oil
in a half a cup water mix together,
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp tumerick
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp garlic powder
When onion is soft and translucent pour in curry mix.  
Add 2 Tbsp. Pataks mild curry paste
Simmer and add a  little more oil


Vegetable Bhudja


Now that the onions and spices are ready,
Add 3 or 4 chopped potatoes
Add 3 or4 chopped carrots
Add a head of cauliflower, cut into pieces
Add about a cup and a half of peas
Add a can of coconut milk 
Salt to taste
Add veggie chicken, FriChick  from the ABC store (SDA Conference Center)
cook until tender


Coconut Rice


3 cups long grain rice
1 1/4 tsp tumeric
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
6 cups water, (1 can coconut milk is part of the six cups)
2 bay leaves
pinch cinnamon
pinch cardamom
pinch cloves
On med heat add oil and rice into a med sized pot, add tumeric and salt.  Once rice is heated and coated in the spices pour into a 9 by 13" casserole dish.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min and then take the foil off and bake for an additional 15 min. 


This photo shows the leftovers we had the next day for lunch:)  Sooooo yummy!

Neka came out of quiet time with this picture, I am in love with it!  I can't wait to see what's next.

sisters

I just finished reading "me and my sisters" and although it wasn't a really deep read I was intrigued by the whole three sisters thing.  I have brothers and so don't know what it would be like to have a sister, the older I get the more I think that having one would be really cool.  Maybe she'd be the one that really gets me, the one that I could tell anything to, that when I could come over to her house I'd know that she wouldn't tidy up before I came because she didn't have to worry about what I thought about the state of things there.    

I also think, I have three girls, what will their relationship be like as adults?  Will they all be close?  This weekend I observed three adult sister chatting and bantering with each other then when their mother came into the room they all began exclaiming how good her cooking was.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven, you mean this kind of relationship is possible!  I want it!  I want to nurture, teach and love my girls into becoming delightful people who inspire and lead others while nurturing those around them.  It is a tall goal for me as I find myself many times shouting through the tantrums, sending people left and right to time outs and yelling for this one to stop hurting that one.  

I often refer to my life as a three ringed circus, this analogy makes me laugh because it brings a funny and most times chaotic picture to mind. Within that picture I want to be the loving yet firm ringmaster that bringing out the best in everyone despite the chaos, seeing through the tantrums to what is really going on and affirming instead of just scolding when the smallest things causes one to dissolve into tears.

Last week I needed to read more and be on the computer less.  I feel more peaceful now and ready for what I want to create this week.  A visit with some high school friends, exercise to make me feel great about myself, sending a care package to some friends who've just had a baby and some blogging time just for me.  That's my share for the day, a little insight into my thoughts:)

A happy week to all!

home

Morning in the garden

This film captures my desire for an earth conscious life.  I've been thinking lately about what is truly my heart's desire.  I see wood, dirt, glass, and cement, put those together and I see something that feels grounded, solid and whole.  I was washing the dishes the other night alone with my earbuds in and dancing to Laura Marling.  I breathed in and out and sang at the top of my lungs.  In quiet moments I see my life as it is-beautiful.

To find any of these links visit my pinterest board

valentines

Valentine's Day had moments of delightful surprise and some tasty morsels to eat. After Neka's school we headed over to Aunty Shannon's house so the girls could give out their valentines cards and chocolates.  They had so much fun in sticker heaven making them.  There, we received yummy brownies, mmmmmm...thank-you!  
During the day I found little notes all over the house hidden amongst ordinary tasks.  The one that touched me the most was when I sat down to read for a few minutes and upon turning a page I discovered a note about finding peaceful moments in my day-I love you buddy!
The day before I found the most wonderful recipe.  An Italian Nutella Meringue Torte. I thought, I should make this sometime but then on Valentines I shook my head and say wow, how cool is it that I found this recipe yesterday, it was the perfect way to surprise Tey with something yummy. I just realized that many of my posts lately have been about food, ahhhh well, such is my life:)

 I can't seem to find where I found the recipe but when I do I'll post it:)

date night

So, last night was the first time since we've had Nora that Tey and I have gone out on a date.  I was excited to sit down and eat something delectable but most of all I wanted to look across the table at the man I've been married to for almost ten years and have a quiet uninterrupted conversation.  This we did while drinking our mint, mango puree iced tea and eating a scrumptious asian noodle salad with avocado and papaya. We also had a boconccini roasted bread with sundried tomatoes and an olive tapenade. For dessert we had the dessert sampler but my favorite by far was the white chocolate cheesecake.  We shared thoughts that had been tucked away for just such a time and after doing a little dreaming about our lives we left feeling closer and excited to make time to do this again soon!

Milestones

family cooking

I called my dad and said "I'm making dumpfnoodle, are you coming?" Those were the magic words and a few hours later he was here. I set about getting the dough ready to rise and then it was time to make the potoato soup.  When the "dumpfnoodle" were shaped and ready to begin rising I was excited, this was my all time most sentimentally favorite meal.  My Oma in germany made them for us when we visited her and the last time I was there I helped her make them and wrote down the recipe.  I had attempted them a few times before however each time something just wasn't right, this time though I had high hopes!
My dad brought the heavy pots that we cooked them in and then we were ready.  The first batch came out looking beatiful and both of us were saying "by george I think we've got it." When we were ready to sit down and begin feasting I let out a big sigh, this was life, sitting down to eat with family that I loved. Inside I gave a little shout out to my Oma who I knew would be proud of me for keeping the tradition going.

My dad digging in!

My Oma's Dumpfnoodle

Almost two cups lukewarm whole milk

8 cups flour (I make 2 cups of those whole wheat)

3 packages instant yeast

1 tsp salt

1 package vanilla sugar

2 Tbsp margarine or butter room temp.

2-3 Tbsp oil

1 cup superfine sugar

2 eggs

Put dry ingredients into mixer bowl. Make a well in the flour and pour about half the milk in, add yeast into milk and stir. Turn mixer on to low and slowly add rest of ingredients as well as the rest of the milk.  Once dough is combined mix for about 10 min.  Let rest and rise double about 1 1/2 hours.  When double in size pinch of about a handful sized piece and form into a bun shape, lay on lightly floured surface.  Makes about 15 or 16 buns.  Let rise double.  About 1/2 hour to 45 min.

During this time make the potato soup. 

Oma's Potato Soup

Chop up a large onion and a leek, saute in a generous amount of olive oil

Shred about 5 carrots into onion mixture and continue cooking

Add a large chunk of (peeled) ginger and chop up about

8 large potatoes, I used russets because they looked good but I would also use Yukon Gold.

Fill pot with vegetable broth or water and vegetable cubes. 

Cook until almost done, add a finely chopped tomato and take out ginger chunk.  When potatoes are tender set soup aside until dumpfnoodle are ready. 

Cooking the Dumpfnoodle

You need two heavy bottomed pots with sealing glass lids, these you put on the stove on high.  Melt in a generous slice of butter. Pour a small cupful of water in and add 2 heaping Tbsp sugar. When the water comes to a boil gently place 4 dumpfnoodle in each pot and put on lid. 

 The reason the lid is glass is so you can see when you need to turn the heat down.  You want to be careful when taking the lid off that no water drops fall on the dumpfnoodle.

Cook them on high for about 5 min and when you don't see any more water (you'll still see bubbles but that is the beginning of the caramel) and you hear little crackling sounds then turn it down to low and cook for another 2ish minutes. 

Take lid off carefully and turn them over with a stiff spatula (they should look gooey and golden)  Cook for for another 2ish minutes on the other side and then take out and place on your favorite platter.  Rinse pot out and dry, you'll need to make two batches in each pot. 

Gather your family round, spear a dumpfnoodle with a fork and take a big warm goey bite!  Then try your super yummy potato soup and be happy to have such a wonderful life:)



pancakes

On Saturday morning I really had a hankering for fun pancakes and by that I mean with lots of yummy things in them.  I made white chocolate raspberry ones and milk chocolate pecan ones and even a flax, nut, sunflower seed one for my husband:) his request!  We topped them with sliced strawberries and raspberries (from my friend's patch).  Then we added whipped cream and organic maple syrup and I have to say, when I took my first bite my mouth was already watering:)  This morning as I was putting my youngest down for a nap I remembered a trip we took to Germany.  I was staying with my Oma on my dad's side and my mom was staying with her mom.  I took the bus over to her village, only a couple of kilometers away and when I stepped into the kitchen I observed my mom helping her mom make pancakes.  My heart felt soooo at home!  It is the sweetest memory I have of us all together.  There is something so cozy about about making and eating pancakes together. 
When I was a student missionary I lived with six girls in an apartment, the whole experience is something I will never forget. You can imagine six different personalities from four different countries, well it was memorable to say the least:)  But one of my sweetest memories is when Kara (who is still a dear friend) would make pancakes.  She made them for breakfast or dinner and I never felt happier in the house when that yummy smell came wafting out of the kitchen.  We would gather round and dig in, each sharing stories about our lives, bonding with each other.  Many good things happen over pancakes.

note on a design

music to my ears

I've found a couple of new female artists that I really like.  Lucy Rose has three singles that I downloaded from itunes, I can't wait until she comes out with an album. Gabrielle Aplin has a gorgeous voice. I checked out some of her songs on utube and I'm really drawn to her style. 

I want to bake something, have Tey take the girls for a walk to the park so I have the kitchen to myself and listen to music LOUDLY.  I am intrigued with the different emotions I have throughout the day and love that when I listen to some good tunes.  I feel then that my life is unique in a good way, that what I'm doing is worthwhile. Maybe what I mean is that I get to step back from my life and look at it a little through better lenses. 

I'm listening to Laura Marling as I write this and I feel a little transported.  I think a similar thing happens when I read.  I love those moments.  Earlier I was cuddling Nora and she was so obviously soaking it up that it made me stop and think, these are the important things I do in my day.  LOVE.  Music makes me feel more alive and in the moment. 
I think I'll make quiche for supper and listen to some tunes!

Lucy Rose

Gabrielle Aplin

pasta

Yesterday I felt like pasta.  I bought a big bag of sweet basil and some pine nuts and couldn't wait to taste the pesto I'd make with them.  This time I made a little variation on the typical pesto pasta and I thought it was sublime!  Once I mixed it together at the end my mouth was watering and I couldn't wait to take my first bite.

Here are some rough measurements of the ingredients I used.  I didn't measure but just went with what felt right:)

Creamy Pesto Pasta

Pesto:

I huge handful basil (about a cup)

1/2-3/4 cup pine nuts

a big glug of extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup?

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Blend together until a it looks like pesto:)

Cream sauce:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cream
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
a pinch of seasoning salt (I use Herbamare)

Before I start this dish I cut the top off two whole garlic heads and place them on aluminum foil then I drizzle the tops with olive oil, wrap it up and put it in the oven to bake at 350 degrees (about 1/2 hour or so until the garlic looks roasted and lovely.  A little after you put the garlic in, slice in half a carton of cherry tomatoes (not the carton, the tomatoes:) pop them on a baking sheet and put them in the oven as well.

Put on a big pot of water and bring to a boil for the pasta (whatever kind you like, I did spaghettini) Cook pasta to perfection and drain.

Stir butter until it melts, add cream. Stir slowly on med heat until sauce begins to thicken. Add parmesan cheese (If this is what I was using as a sauce all on its own I would put thinly sliced garlic cloves in it as well).

Once the sauce is done add in the pesto and stir just enough to mix together you don't want to cook the pesto:)  Add in the roasted garlic!

Mix pasta and sauce in your favorite serving bowl and top with roasted tomatoes. Next time I might add some whole pine nuts as well as some cashews.  Maybe some thinly sliced sauteed yellow peppers wouldn't hurt either:)
Eat to your hearts' content!  I know I did:)

pinning

I love Pinterest!  It is so fun to find and pin my favorite things on the web.  I thought I'd show you some things from one of my boards. Happy pinning!

garden party

three flowers

couple snuggling

print with quote

mother and child

oh to be a woman



theater

My mom got Neka and me tickets to Shen Yun at the Queen Elizabeth theater. Shen Yun 
I made it a special day from beginning to end.  We had an asian noodle soup with veggies and tofu for lunch and then it was time to go!  After a yummy snack on the drive we were there. 
Neka was jumping up and down she was so excited!  With her asian doll in hand we climbed the stairs to out seats.  Soon the lights went down and with Neka perched on my lap it began.  Her favorite dances were Lotus Leaves, Flower Fairies, and Snowflakes Welcoming Spring, these dances were filled with lots of pink flowing silk and billowing fog making the stage appear magical.  During the performance she alternated between sitting on my lap and her own seat.  At one point she leaned over and said "did you see that move mommy, wasn't it beautiful?" 
Afterwards, she ater her apple chips and promptly fell asleep.  I know that she felt special to have spent the day with mommy doing something just with her. 

pruning

Friday morning dawned clear and sunny, I felt something was different about this day. When I opened the door I knew what it was, it was warm. Yay! I was craving to go outside into the backyard and do some work.  I had been eyeing up the pear tree for a few months and knew that if it wasn't pruned soon the buds would all be out.  I got the clippers and started with the lowest branches. 
The girls were happy to put on gumboots and dig in the dirt.  When I couldn't reach any more twigs I looked at the tall ladder leaning against the house.  I really wanted to do more and yet that seemed a bit much.  I thought hmmm... this is something Tey should be doing not because it's a man's job but because it was too big and heavy for me.  But something in me wanted to be the one to prune this tree so I lugged the ladder over to the tree and set it up awkwardly.  After starting to reach and few limbs higher up I grew bolder and soon I was at the top of the ladder feeling like I was in charge. 
Part of me resisted this work and the other felt a sense of pride that I was caring for this tree.  The first summer we lived here I canned sixty jars of pear sauce.  The next summer I had Nora and the number went way down, maybe a dozen or so.  This summer I had some plans for me and this tree and I wanted to really own it.  Maybe it sounds weird but I felt I had something to prove. Having wanted a yard for my kids for so long I felt like I had to make every part of it count.  
Since moving here I have been envisioning what I want the garden to look like and so far I am seeing large beams making arbours with wild flowers peppering every square inch that isn't grass.  I have plans to build (with the help of my husband and brothers:) a play house for the girls by June 1st (it's in my goals:) This summer I want to "live" in the back yard.  I'm not going to plant as many vegetables, just my favourites, green beans and cherry tomatoes for the girls, maybe some lettuce planters on the deck. 
I had gotten to the point with the pear tree that I needed to step off the ladder and climb into the middle of the tree to get to the top.  This strangely wasn't as comfortable as I thought it might be, I had climbed many trees as a kid but now I was so conscious of falling that I second guessed each step, it was very frustrating not be feel sure of myself. 
Slowly I could start to see the end of my task and by dusk it was done.  My hands were covered with scratches and I had dropped the clippers on my foot, it was cut and a bruise was forming but as I stood back and surveyed my bare tree I felt good, really good.  It was a challenge I had risen to and conquered! It was good day!

inspiration

One summer I worked with a guy named Shawn Slavin at a small summer camp at Cultus Lake.  Recently I heard him speak on TED Talks.  I am super proud to call him my friend and what he had to say inspired me to pursue my dreams with a vengence!

Shawn Slavin, TED Talks

water birth

Nora is seven months old, she giggles and has the best belly laughs especially when her sisters play with her.  Lately I am feeling drawn to birthing stories.  This is quite normal for me as I have felt this after each of my girl's births.  Recently though, I have been feeling like my body is looking for its next purpose.  For over four years I have been either pregnant or nursing but now I feel a shift in what my mind and body is searching for.  Before, I began nesting when each baby was about seven months old thinking about maybe wanting to have another baby. Now I feel as though I am collecting precious moments to inspire others who are going into and through this time in their lives. I have truly loved being pregnant and having my three girls.

I was talking to a girlfriend the other day about how being pregnant felt like the most important job I've ever had.  I felt so wholly used up (in a good way) and also secretly special to have this work of making a little human.  There was a quiet smile each time I thought "I'm pregnant!"  I know that when other friends around me are becoming pregnant again I will have a little pang of wishing to feel all those things again but everyday I am discovering the joys that come with the new phases that my girls are going through.  I will have sweet memories of this crazy time:)

I wanted to show you the Birth of Leo Hart because it was one of my favorite when I was pregnant with Nala.  A tear runs down the father's face while his wife is labouring, seeing it, made me cry to see a man so actively feeling the power of the moment.

As I was looking at birthing videos I came across this short french film featuring a baby having a bath. Le Bath  I wanted to show both of these together because after the hard work of labour comes the pleasure of having these little ones in our lives.

I found this beautiful piece on Pinterest by Lisa Ferrante, Etsy

music

When I was seventeen I fell for a cute boy who asked me what music I liked.  I remember feeling unbelievably embarrassed by this question because I didn't know.  I had never thought about it and I didn't know any cool obscure bands to rattle off nonchanlantly, all I listened to was classical and praise music and that didn't sound cool to me.  I thought I must sound extremely boring not to have explored such an important area of my life. I remember buying a Joshua Tree tape because a guy I liked loved U2.  I think I thought that I had to like the same music as the person I was with. Years later I started finding artists that I liked and then I realized why the first guy had asked me the question.  Music can speak to your heart and make you feel on top of the world or transport to you places you've never been before. Just because I didn't have a good answer at seventeen didn't mean that I was boring it just meant I hadn't yet been exposed to music that moved me.

Over the years I've been become interested in music that tells stories and that makes me FEEL fantastic.  I love folk music and went through my Sarah Mclachlan, Jewel phase. Later I liked Coldplay, Jack Johnson and even Madonna, I know right,  it doesn't sound like me but I definitely grooved to her songs working at OQOQO. This is the "cool" thing I've discovered about music, it's all about how you feel. 
I found my first MOST favorite artist in my mid twenties Feist grabbed my heart and I fell in love.  In this last year I was introduced to two artists that I have to say, I would love to know personally.  Laura Marling has a hauntingly beautiful voice and lyrics that are intruiging.  Pamplamoose is fun and makes me want to dance while I cook or wash the dishes.  My experience with music is rich and delightful and most of all I know that right around the corner is my next MOST favorite artist.