projects, food and family

This is a project that Tey is working on to organize and store toys better, I am very much looking forward to it being ready!  He is making each one separate so that they can be used as benches as well, love his way of thinking:)

 Neka "reading" "Have you seen my cat?" by Eric Carl to her sisters. Lots of RRRRRRRRING!

 Movie time with the cousins, each one has an organic lollipop to  boot, life is "sweet".

 Lunch with my girls, Neka wearing her beads and looking very colorful. We are eating leftover lasagna from yesterday's yummy lunch.  Now the house is quiet as everyone is having either a nap or quiet time in their rooms.  This morning I made pancakes for the family after I tackled the dishes.  I put my earbuds in and listened to some Laura Marling really loud:)  I got into a rhythm and soon the kitchen was ready to make delicious food.  Tey and I got into a bit of a tiff over something and later, after breakfast I headed out to get some air.  After ordering an Egyptian Mint tea at my favorite Wired Monk I caught up with some pinteresting and then tucked my feet up to have a little read.  A while later I was feeling much more like myself, calm and peaceful.  Taking this time is so important, to come back to the family with a level head feeling heard by ones self.

penne with a creamy cashew sauce

I usually make a cream sauce but today I thought about a cashew sauce my mom makes that I really like.  It turned out so creamy and lovely that both Tey and I agreed that it should make the rotation more often.  

 Penne with a Creamy Cashew Sauce

Penne:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add olive oil and salt. Cook and drain Penne, set aside.

Vegetables:

Saute a 

whole onion

any color pepper 

a whole zucchini and

a small section of ginger, finely cut

Cut in a can of vegetable protein (original frichick from the ABC) Set aside.

Cashew Sauce:

all measurements are approximate, I just go with texture and flavour to see what's right

In a blender, put about a cup and a half of raw cashews

a glug of olive oil

a large clove of garlic

a Tbsp. vegetable base. The one I use comes in a jar called "Better Than Bouillon."  You can find it at Save On Foods in the natural food isle.  

about 1/3 cup brewers yeast.

a small chunk ginger

about 3 cups boiling water

Blend until very smooth.

Place cooked noodles in a favorite serving bowl, add sauteed vegetables and finally, pour over the cashew sauce.  Lightly mix together and serve, yum!  I can smell it now:)

puzzeling

After my friend and I picked up our hot drinks we headed to her place for some "knitting." We say that we are getting together to knit but history shows it usually never even get's out of the bag.  On this day my friend asked if I was up for a puzzle and I said an enthusiastic "yes!"  I hadn't done one in years and as long as it wasn't too big I thought, what fun!  Here is the completed masterpiece, I have decided puzzeling must be part of my life:) So must yummy hot drinks with biscotti!

 Nala works on a puzzle at home and does very well:)

civilian

Last night I spent time with some old friends as well as a few new ones that I totally fell in love with.  We were talking and listening to music. Tony Bennett was singing one of his classics and I stopped and was present for a moment, looking around the room I realized that times like these are so unique and integral to a rich life.  I used the word 'thwarted' and 'pram' in conversation and both times I surprised myself at my word choice.  I felt a lot like myself and heard bits of my past come into the conversation making me realize that I've had a very "hippy" upbringing.  We lived for a while in a school bus that my dad, an artist, painted soft pink with lots of flowers.  The door handle was a deer's horn and the windows were filled with panes of his stained glass. I never thought much about it as a kid but looking back on it now it seems strange and yet somehow it influenced how I approach life, in a good way!

baltic amber necklace

Yesterday a friend and I headed to White Rock for the sale at Not For Long (link below), we had a blast.  I found some delightful treasures for the girls including some adorable outfits, some small food containers and best of all this baltic amber teething necklace.  I just pulled it out of her shirt to show you but it lies against the skin where the heat bring out the succinic oil which is a natural pain reliever for teething, so they say:)  I'm all about becoming a believer!  It's cool how awareness comes about, I saw them on pinterest and was curious and then at play time I saw a little boy with one and thought hmmm...I just saw that, I wonder what it's about?  Then, the girls at Not for Long told me how much they love them for their kids, I got excited to see if it would work for Nora!  I'll keep you posted:)

This is the company that makes them

Not for Long

moments

I've been reading "Balancing Acts" by Zoe Fishman and am loving it!  It follows the lives of Charlie, Sabine, Naomi and Bess as they forge a friendship while doing yoga.  It has all the elements of a great read, the only thing I'm sad about is that it is Zoe's first book and I know that I will want to read much more of her work after finishing it.  

 Nala is blowing her birdie whistle from Auntie Shannon while eating her Saturday night supper, it was such a precious moment with her.  Neka was out running errands with Daddy and Nora was burbling a story at the table with us, it made me sentimental realizing that the cuteness of these days passes so quickly.  I know each stage has beautiful elements but oh the cuddles and giggles had with a two year old is beyond precious!

 Nora was in such a good mood yesterday so during one such particularly great moment I plucked her into the moses basket with the toys and this grin emerged:)

 Neka showed me her animals all lined up.  I've noticed some things developing in her.  Confidence in what she likes, precision with story telling and a real flair for drawing.  I love watching the people my girls are becoming.

 It amazes me that these little people come from us and it causes me to be so aware of how I'm shaping them.  I love the guidance of those older who have already gone through this time.

We went to Safari Zone yesterday with the kids and it surprised me that Nala was so bold!  She figured out how to climb some things that had held her back previously as well as shooting down the big slides all by herself:)  I loved how she would say "count mommy, one, two, three, go!" and down she'd go not even looking back.

 I think it's time for a tea, some chocolate and a few moments reading my delightful book!

bedroom

Things have been busy at home, good busy!  We finally got our headboard up, yay!!!  I found these boards at a reclaimed wood place near mission and I'm in love with how it grounds the room.  Tey and I took turns sanding them, the process feels like a metaphor for marriage.  I'm working on an art piece that will go above it but overall our bedroom feels finished.  I love sleeping in a room that is made with love!

The closet is from Ikea but I got it from a friend for 40 dollars, it makes any bedroom feel like mine.  In its drawers I have my treasures, favorite cards, positive pregnancy test (Nora's) jewellery, (Freedom Stones) watch (from Tey that I no longer wear but love) and lingerie that I am just now feeling feeling great enough to wear again:)

There is still lots to do in our home but I love working on it room by room, slowly creating the feel I envision.