barefoot movement

As I watched this Ted Talk I was moved by the work of women.  It amazes me how much I limit myself and what I'm capable of.  Fear of making a mistake or looking bad holds me back from pursuing ideas.  I'm asking myself more and more, "what am I doing with this one wild and precious life I've been given?" as said by Mary Oliver. 
My cinnamon bun dough is rising and I hear Neka singing outside with the birds.  I feel young and free at this moment.  May you feel blessed and free to dream today!

plum jam and chocolate bundt cake

Apple Town Plum Jam by Daniel Grey

This film is so beautiful!  I see myself making a yummy batch of strawberry rhubarb jam this summer.  In this film you catch a glance of some of my favorite people in the blog world Che and Fidel  

On Sunday I made this lovely bundt cake and thought afterwards that it is a highly recommended thing to do:)  I love the smell in the house, I love the first bite and how as I take a sip of tea I remember being in germany with my family and having cake and coffee in  afternoons.  Outside the grass looks like it's covered in snow.  The flower petals are falling from the trees and the new leaf buds tell me that fruit will come.  I've chosen the seeds I want to plant this month and look forward to some warm days to plant them.

I don't remember where I found this recipe so if you recognize it let me know so I can give credit!

Pound Cake

3 cups all purpose flour

3 cups sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup sour cream, room temperature

6 eggs

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

zest from 1 lemon

Mix butter and sugar with electric mixer.  Add the eggs one at a time until well incorporated.  Add sour cream, vanilla, lemon extract and zest, then add the dry ingredients. Mix until moistened and pour into greased bundt pan.  This makes enough to also make a small second cake of another shape or in my case I filled up three of the girls little play (but oven safe) pans.  A heart, a teddy bear and a loaf pan.  They loved seeing the end result:)

Bake at 350 for approximately 1 hr or until toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate glaze

A nice chunk of whatever size you like of Bernard Callebout chocolate in a bowl on top of a pot of simmering water.  When chocolate is melted drizzle in some heavy cream until the glaze looks pourable:)  

Pour over bundt cake and lick the chocolate off your fingers:)

Enjoy!

Have a wonderful weekend and bake yourself a cake to share with friends.

face painting

Last Saturday we had some fun with face paints.  Beckie is quite the artist, she did this lovely gecko for Neka!

 Neka in turn made this delightful butterfly for Daddy:)

 Stewart received his stripes curtesy of Beckie

 As did I:)

 And to bring everything full circle I did some spring flowers for Beckie:)

I've been checking out some of the traditions surrounding May Pole dancing.  Next year I want to make one in our backyard.  All the children can come and we can have a spring celebration.  Maybe some tie-dying, sack racing, apple bobbing and most importantly Face Painting I can't wait!

mom

Beautiful

rain, bee stings and birthdays

This is the view from my deck.  As I stand by the window washing dishes I love discovering what's new with the trees.  It's amazing how the new leaves are such an electric green!  

 This is try number 2.  Bee Sting Buns from this recipe.  I found the actual baking time much shorter than the recipe said and definitely think these are a great brioche recipe but not so much an authentic Bee Sting, for that, I would go back to using this one and instead of the vanilla pudding centre make the real vanilla bean pastry cream from this one.  Now that that's clear:)  I am glad I made a few different ones so that we could compare.  

On Friday evening we headed out to my niece's 1st birthday party.  My sister in law did a milk and cookies theme and it was, as always, an amazing spread!  She made Amelie a birthday dress and as I dressed her in it I was in awe of all that Shannon does:)  Wow, I have so much respect and love for her talents and gifts.  

I'm excited for May!  I look forward to planting my garden, getting a haircut that is long overdue, going to a wedding, and celebrating our ten year wedding anniversary!  Happy Monday, make some soup and get cozy.

kinfolk

 I'm feeling cozy indoors as the rain falls on the fruit trees and flowers outdoors.  This weekend we have shared time with family and friends and as I gaze on these wonderful photos I really feel like they totally encapsulate what I love most about life.  

kinfolk

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life?” 

― Mary Oliver

reading, baking and celebrating life

Sarah Pekkanen's book "The Opposite of Me" is as great as her book "Skippping A Beat" I am stoked that I have one more of hers to read after this one!  I'm in my bliss when after the dishes are washed and the kids are napping I can curl up with my book and read. (The dishes don't always have to be washed, it just feels that much better:)

 So, here is try number 1 for the Bee Stings.  I went off of this recipe for the cake and the glaze but not for the pastry cream instead I used this one.  All in all I loved the making of this cake.  The dough came together beautifully and the vanilla bean pastry cream was devine.  The baking time was off for me only 12 min instead of 25 so check it often, I was really surprised when the toothpick came out clean after such a short time.  Today is Bee Sting bun day.  We'll see how it goes:)

 Our little big Nora who loves nothing more than to stand holding onto things, lots of drool and big smiles these days.

 I had some fun playing around with Instagram and found some cool new features or at least new to me:)  Nala's eyes always get me, straight to the heart!

 Neka had such an open face, she's softening and asking for more cuddles I love it!  There's nothing like being a mama.  I have so much love in my life, I'm so grateful!  To think in my early twenties I didn't even want to have kids, so much has changed.  Ten extra pounds, a soft round belly and a heart full of precious memories.  Oh how I wouldn't trade it!

This weekend has two special birthdays.  My gorgeous niece is turning 1 and some friends who had a baby two months before us are celebrating their sons 1st birthday as well.  I'm looking forward to celebrating these milestones.  Way to go Mamas!