New Books!

My new books arrived, my new books are here! By far one of my most favorite things to get in the mail. I ordered myself a few treats with a little Christmas money and thanks to 2-day shipping they came right to my door today.

Like Christmas morning all over again!

New to my shelves today are:

The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast: Breads, Pancakes, Waffles, Cinnamon Rolls, and Muffins by Caleb Warnock and Melissa Richardson

Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

Early American Cookery: "The Good Housekeeper" 1841 by Sarah Josepha Hale

I've only flipped through The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast so far, but it has inspired a little making and some supply lists and dreaming... and oh, isn't that the best part of new books? The inspiration. 

Right Now

Right now, I'm...

...watching and wondering if the hubs is going to wake up feeling better this morning, after a long and stuffy weekend battling a head cold.
...pretty much giving up on my kumquat tree. It's below freezing at least half of every 24-hour period, so it can't be outside or it will die, and it apparently has lost it's will to live when it's inside, so whatever. Maybe the small fruits will ripen before it lets go. *sigh*
...looking around at the living spaces where we all hung out, mostly wrapped in robes and surrounded by Littles, and seeing much of what we were doing left precisely where it fell when we moved on to something else.
...smiling at all the making that happened in a flurry once the little toy Singer came out and the fabric scrap basket was surrendered.
...planning for a visit from Aunt KK and Cousin Rachel, and wondering just what the kids have been practicing behind closed doors to celebrate their arrival (it apparently has a lot of plopping and jumping involved, judging by the house-rattling commotion their practice was causing).
...hoping I'll find a chance to work this amazing-looking comfort food into our menu this week.
...getting excited for some new books to arrive in the mail; I ordered The Art of Baking with Natural Yeasts by Caleb Warnock and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, and I feel like I'm waiting for Christmas morning (again, I know!).
...loving the chance for more sunshine and back-to-normal temps this week!

If we can lift our heads out of this congesty bug that's got a grip on Daddy and keep it away before it gets anyone else, I'll consider the weekend a success and the oncoming week can bring it!

Wishing all health and clear sinuses... and on that note, have a happy Monday!

This Moment

Playing along with Amanda today... in her words: 

{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.

New Year, New Couches

Ah, that wonderful place at the end of a long, long process where projects are finished, time has been spent getting to know a space, and means are available; we find ourselves in that place now, seeking out special pieces here and there to flesh out our home... like new couches for the family room!

We shopped, we tested, we talked, we shopped some more, and we finally made our choice. We did our due diligence in the used furniture sector, patrolling CraigsList.org and the like, but there just wasn't something out there that would work for us here. It was truly a hard room to furnish. But now, one of the most awkward spaces in our house is now starting to take shape and offer function!

I love our new couches so. They were pounced on by my 'helpers' the moment they were unwrapped, and I think their sentiments are the same. Love.

And so we dive into the winter months of being housebound with a feeling of excitement for our 'new' spaces, and all that can- and will- be done in them.

A (Little More Peaceful Than) Normal Morning, In Photos

Enjoying a brief pause in that magical moment at home when we're fresh back from dropping Sister off at school, Brother is upstairs "waking up Snoopy," and my coffee is still hot. Have a good morning, all.

Right Now

Right now, I'm loving a long, long weekend that saw...

...four days of the four of us together spending time in pjs late into the mornings, finding ways to eat eggs and eggs and more eggs, discovering a kid-love of puzzles, and drinking lots of coffee.
...errands around town, a few meals out, and the chance to take a couple solo trips for some Mama shopping therapy.
...rearranging, purging, cleaning, re-purposing... and then ultimately an order for some new furniture!
...prep and excitement (from at least one of us) for the start-back-uppage of school.
...the clearing of the skies and the appearance- finally- of the sun! How we've missed it and didn't even realize it... though I'll never speak ill of wet, rainy days, because we needed those too!

Right now I'm finding that the void left from the holiday hustle and bustle is too easily filling itself, and though this week doesn't hold any big or special plans of its own it is quickly filling up. Ah well, c'est la vie, no?

Have a happy Monday!

Weekending

The sun! The sun came out again! There's puddles and mud, and still a few clouds, but by golly we saw the sun yesterday, it it felt GOOD!

Happy weekending!