Mothership Memories and Lemon Pound Cake

              

 We all experience pivotal moments in our lives. Moments we cross the threshold of believing a certain way, and suddenly an event occurs in our lives and we are inexplicably changed forever. One such event occurred in my life, four years ago today, on February 28, 2012.

I was at my son Harrison's grade 7 basketball game, cheering loudly, when my cell phone rang. My 16 year old son, Mitchell said, "Mom, I'm so sorry, but Auntie J just called to say, Umma has passed away." This was the moment I had dreaded my whole life, ever since my Dad had been killed when I was 5 years old, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop; losing my mom. My heart was hurtled through the abyss of no return and yet, like any preordained destiny, I continued through that black hole towards inevitable pain.

On the drive to my mother's new care home, where she had been moved only 4 days prior, after being in the hospital for 2 weeks due to a fall, memories of her, like the vintage 8 mm family movies my Dad would play on his clicking Kodak projector, ran through my mind.

On the screen, Mom was the star, moving faster than real life time. The scenes flashed, showing a beautiful woman with a slim body and long legs dancing and laughing, then another, was of her, surrounded by children, smiling proudly, like a mother hen all puffed up over how smart her baby chicks were at finding juicy worms. In all the pictures she moved gracefully,  even when she was peeling potatoes. She was stunning, with soft, wavy brown hair circling her head, her eyes were hypnotic green cat's eyes and her face had hints of Slavic ancestry, from the invading Mongols centuries before. Her smile was gentle and kind but often sad, as she moved on a trajectory of grief, loss and struggle.

My mother was raised, smothered in fear by her parents,, who had lost two babies before she was born. They hovered over their princess, Ethel May, and panicked each time she uttered a cough or had a fever. As a result, she came to view herself as delicate, perhaps she was, I'll never truly know, but that shadowed her whole life and mine too. She was encouraged to play quietly, developing a rich, creative dream life, cutting out whole families from the Sears Roebuck catalogue and spending hours reading books. She loved animals and told stories of her pet bunnies disappearing, coincidentally around the same time the family had enjoyed a Sunday night Chicken dinner. Sadly, her childhood was layered with scarcity during the Great Depression and as a young woman, she perfected the art of worry and anxiety, while living through the Second World War.

Her face remained unlined for years, despite becoming a widow with four daughters at age 39 and then again at age 59. Even though hardship and depression had been her companions in life, she strove to be happy and looked for opportunities to help others with a kind word, or encouraging smile. She was  generous and loving to all who knew her, and you never left her house empty handed. 

Finally arriving at the Care home, I drew closer to the looming precipice of my existence, tightly wrapped in that of my mother's, and consciously noticed my senses were heightened, as the automatic doors to the Creekside Extended Care Home whooshed open and I entered a building, quiet as cotton batting in the ears and smelling of stale air.

When I walked into mom's room, she was lying peacefully in her bed, her arms crossed over her stomach, her eyes were closed and her face was relaxed. She appeared to be lost in a deep sleep, however, I knew my Mothership was empty. The vessel I had arrived on earth in, was broken and I would have to find a new way to return home.

 My sisters were standing, like protective sentinels next to her bed. They turned to greet me with  sad smiles, and I joined them, standing next to my mother's left shoulder. As my sister J, who had been with mom when she had taken her last breath, started quietly sharing mom's final afternoon, I began stroking the hair off mom's forehead.

J told how mom had been on her way to thank someone for a kindness, so like her, when she had suffered a massive stroke in the hallway and died suddenly.

As I had been listening to this story, my senses were acute, every fibre of my being alert, as I knew I was experiencing something that would alter me forever. J finished the story of mom's exit scene but I said, "She is still with us. Come and feel her head." Light, tingling waves of energy emanated, haloing her head and I was in awe, swept up in the current of her ultimate vibrating message, "I am still here and I love you." She had waited to say goodbye.

Instead of falling off the cliff that day, my mom birthed a new belief in me. I woke and started to really live for the first time in my life being freed by so many fears and earthly concerns. Feeling her energy in that moment gave me the realization that death is not the end, it is simply the casting off of a beloved overcoat that has served its purpose, allowing us to move onto the next stage of existence. I had dreaded this moment my whole life and although yes, I was sad to know I would never hear her gentle voice again, I was also buoyant with joy and gratitude. I was so proud over how regally, like a queen, she had traveled the last bit of her life on earth, giving us time to settle into the idea that the end may be near, and also the easy and graceful way she left.

If there ever was a life lesson she taught, and she taught me many through the years, about over coming difficulties with dignity and integrity, this had to be the most illuminating lesson. She had released me from an old way of being, of thinking about life and dying and who we truly are.

That was a turning point for me in so many ways, with regards to my spirituality and my life goals. It really was the moment when I knew I had to start writing too; something I had put off, thinking I was too busy raising our family.  This blog is just one way that I'm living my new life.

But back to the story and my last memory of mom.

 Since I knew mom was still very much with us, she gave me one final gift and that was the chance to whisper, "goodbye and, I love you too."

                                             

     
Join me in hearing the song "Smile" by Nat King Cole....my mom loved music, she loved to dance but most of all she loved to smile and make people feel happy.

        

And before I leave you, hopefully uplifted because you know, there is no such thing as dying...which seems to be everyone's worst fear...so funny really....what we should be most fearful about, is not really.... living. Being creative beings full of love in this lifetime.

 Part of living is eating, and boy my mom loved anything lemon, so today, in honour her I thought I would make my lemon pound cake that she enjoyed when she came to visit. It's easy...which she would appreciate, never wanting to make work for anyone.

 And so delicious.

 It's perfect to take to any event, or when you have loved ones coming for tea. So without further ado....here is my Lemon Pound Cake recipe, dedicated to my mom, Ethel May Herrling, Clark, Finch. A wonderful mom, a beautiful person, and a delightful spirit.

  Hope's Lemon Pound Cake

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp lemon extract, or concentrated lemon juice and grate some lemon zest 
4 eggs

Glaze 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan. In a large bowl, combine all cake ingredients. Bend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pan.

Bake at 325 F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until the toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean. Remove cake from oven. With a long tined fork, poke deep holes every inch. In a small bowl, blend glaze ingredients until smooth. Spoon half of the glaze over the hot cake in the pan. Let stand upright in pan for 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Spoon remaining glaze over the cake. Cool completely, and serve.

And enjoy!

I'm so happy you came to visit today....life is so good and I'm thankful I have been able to record some of my life stories on this blog and also share some of our family's recipes with you.

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope

 

      

Living an Inspired LIFE....Holding the Vision

                                                    

 
Following up to my post which I wrote a few weeks ago on inspiration, (Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Inspiration, or is it the other way around?)  I wanted to share a few additional thoughts and also a link to a TED Talk I recently found, which further inspired THIS post. Have you ever wondered where creative inspiration comes from? I know you know what I'm talking about because we have all experienced it in life. Even those people who are very analytical, and have a black and white belief system and say they don't have one creative bone in their body. We all have that golden connection to the divine, whether we want to admit it or not. Whether we want to be open and allow it to settle within, filling us with brilliant light to shine out into the world. Our Bravo moments!

I have experienced those timeless, uplifting moments when I parent, cook, garden, but lately they erupt like a geyser to the surface of my consciousness, not able to be contained below ground any longer. They spill forth and I either have to grab a piece of paper and write down the flowing words, or they evaporate into the heavens. If I do capture them in time and I start to fill my bucket with ideas,  thoughts, feelings of expression; the words pour out of me and I KNOW, I am but a vessel of divine creativity.

Those moments, when I have captured pure love, and passed it on to my child, or put it into my soup, or my garden, or allowed it to flow onto a page, I know that is eternal soul speaking through me. That is the little piece of GOD that shines within me. I live for those brief, elusive moments. They are the things that get me up in the morning and I hold my breath for all day....always looking to be taken, swept away and allowed to soar on the wings of inspiration.

We are all given these glimpses, but for some of us they appear more readily or for longer stretches of time so we can produce great works of art. Some of us have to just show up as Elizabeth Gilbert wrote in her book, "Big Magic," and say, I'm here, ready to do the work and just hope that "creative genius," will come to the table. That is our job, to show up, to not lose hope, to trust that we will be lifted by creative genius to have a baby, write a song, paint a picture, or write a book.

Sometimes, we just have to keep breathing, keep experimenting, as Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in the quote that started this blog post.

    "All Life is an Experiment, the more you experiment the better."

Because the more that I do what I love to do, parent, cook, garden, practice my yoga....and write....the better I get and sometimes that is enough. It has to be,.....but I'm still holding out for the moments of pure Grace that come in the early morning hours while the house lies in deep stillness.

If you have 18 minutes and want to be further inspired, check out Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk called, "Your Elusive Creative Genius." It's interesting that she gave this talk quite awhile before she wrote the book, "BIG MAGIC." The ideas for that book, were obviously starting to stir and  alighting inside, ready to settle and allow her to write another great book.

We all have it in us, we just have to BELIEVE and keep showing up, being open.

If you can't see the video below, check out this hyper link to "TED talk, Your Elusive Creative Genius."

I hope this post and the Elizabeth's TED Talk lifts you up and moves you in the direction of your most creative self. So you can live your best life.

Lately, I think that is what my blog is evolving into. I started it while on the road to becoming more environmentally conscious, more sustainable. My intense appreciation for Mother Earth, (H.O.P.E. is my acronym for "helping our planet earth") but there are other ways to give back. Helping those find their link to the divine is truly coming home. Surrendering fear and filling the space with gratitude, is the first step. Always letting go and trusting, holding the belief we are souls first, living an earthly existence and we are limitless as a result. If we can assimilate that belief system into our lives, not just for seconds but  mindfully throughout our lifetime. It's then we will be filled up with love and creative genius will alight within us to help us create a better world. Each of us contributing the beauty of our soul.

And while yes, I'm going to be talking about building chicken coops, gardening for a more productive vegetable yield, baking a healthier cake, raising a kinder, more conscious child, and more, I want to tap into why we are all here on this planet at this time in history. I know the world is shifting, the vibration towards pure consciousness is speeding faster and faster. That explains why in many pockets of the world there is chaos, because many people are driven by fear and that creates anger and hatred, but if we remember from where we came and who we truly are, our time on earth will be remembered as the shift in mass consciousness towards spiritual awakening.

 It may feel unsettling but any change, even a positive change can make us feel shaky. As one final link, check out this piece written by, Jim Malloy, "How The Consciousness Shift May be Affecting You." We just need to let go and trust and peace will reign. Hold the vision with me...H.T.V....maybe that will be another new acronym for my blog...sounds like a new T.V. network.

Stay tuned for more from this network....more to come on H.T.V. as the inspiration is flowing nightly. Thanks for being my co creators! I love you all!

Here is a quote from Choquash – a Native American storyteller – which captures the essence of all this…

“The elders have sent me to tell you that now is like a rushing river, and this will be experienced in many different ways. There are those who would hold onto the shore… there is no shore. The shore is crumbling. Push off into the middle of the river. Keep your head above the water, look around to see who else is in the river with you, and celebrate.”

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope

Homemade Lavender/Peppermint Shampoo and Coming Clean

                      
 


As I write this blog post, January is waving goodbye and I can feel the promise of early Spring. A few days ago, I woke to a brighter light, making me strip layers of winter warmth off my body. I felt more invigorated and buoyant saying goodbye to my school bound kids which normally, is a bittersweet moment as a large part of me wants to keep them close. Using some quick child psychology on the little girls, suggesting with my head nodding vigorously and a huge smile on my face, that it would be the perfect day to play hookie from their preschool program, (playing hookie is good for the soul too) of which thankfully, they happily agreed to.  I started planning my day.

The advantages of having twins as our youngest children is I never feel a need to set up social engagements for them. They are each others best friend and so I quickly perused the|"Activity Village" web site for inspiration to keep them busy for the morning. I often use it to generate some structured project/craft and again, I was not disappointed. Gathering the supplies I needed and also the homemade play doh we had cooked a few days earlier, I arranged a few stations around the kitchen. First a colouring, cutting and pasting project and then colouring a large heart, cutting it out and then using a paper punch, sewing the edges with a shoelace. Finally, the play doh station to really round things out. They are off to kindergarten next September and as sad as that makes me, learning to work independently is part of that preparation.

The little girls and I had made play doh and also used some SAJE (Yoga) essential oil...not only does it smell great but it works as an anti-bacterial product as well...and let's just say....play doh needs that!

I figured I had a good hour or so to dig into a few projects.



Over the years, as each child has arrived and our family has grown, I've let a bit more of my, A type personality go with regards to a clean house. Just keeping us in groceries, everyone fed, in neat and tidy clothes and having a some what orderly house was my main objective. For instance, I used to change our sheets every Monday like clockwork, but currently with seven beds to change, that chore is now performed twice a month. And even then, I stagger laundering everyone's bedding over several days. It's just not practical, nor is it environmentally friendly. The kid's go to bed, often freshly bathed each night and so that is one weekly duty that is superfluous.

As the little girls got down to their crafts, I put on their Kindermusik music CD and as I whipped around the house, I could hear them chatting and singing in their high pitched voices.

Cleaning house is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle to me. You pick up a piece and recognize where it might go and while doing so, you identify another piece that you are looking for....it can be rather thrilling as more and more pieces come together forming a beautiful picture. I know, call me weird but I like doing what the Persian people call, "khounch tekouni," which literally means, "shaking the house." In late spring households there under take cleaning every space in their homes in anticipation of their spring festival called, "Nowruz."  By the time the 12 day festival starts, the homes are clean and the people feel lighter and happier as they feast and visit family.

My mother's birthday was on March 20th, which is the first day of spring. My goal each year has always been to have our whole house cleaned, de-cluttered and organized, not just so I could have the family over and throw a little party for her, but it was to welcome a new season. To shake things up, move things that are longer serving us out, and refresh our home in anticipation of a new chapter in our lives. Although my mother is no longer on earth, I am going to do some khounch tekouni again this year to prepare for spring.

Also, last week, I started seriously writing, using my Tuesday morning, "Oak Table Group" at the local Caetani house, as a catalyst for coming clean with my past.  Pulling stuff that has been laying under the carpet for years is not an easy task. As I move around, room by room, clearing clutter, emptying garbage, cleaning deeply, the emotions pour out of me and with it, words, phrases, thoughts. Nothing works better for moving chi energy and the creative process,  than cleaning house.

After a morning of cleaning, since the little girls were still in their jammies, I asked them if they wanted to have a warm bath and try some of the new lavender/peppermint shampoo we had made together the day before. Katie looked down at her sticky hands, still covered in paste and play doh and gave me a big smile.....she likes nothing better than being really clean-- probably knowing intrinsically there is something restorative about cleaning our bodies.Kids are so good at listening inside and knowing what they need.

I've been wanting to make shampoo for awhile now but often my consumer choices come down to time or money. In the past, it's just been easier to pick up the Kirkland shampoo (no sulfates etc) when we are in the Costco warehouse but during our last visit, I resisted and instead took the time to purchase the items I needed to make homemade shampoo....namely Castile soap, jojoba oil, which I found at my local Super Store. Since one of my favourite essential oils is lavender and I use it in many of my homemade cleaning products, I already had it in the house. Peppermint grows like crazy, next to my compost bin in my herb garden and I always have bunches of it drying in the laundry room.

                                       

I planted it years ago directly in my garden, before I knew how invasive it was (I recommend putting it in pots when I sell it at the garden centre) but I actually don't mind finding it popping up all through my herb garden...so hence I have an abundant supply for tea and now to make shampoo. I love lavender and peppermint together, calming and restorative, yet uplifting as well. I also put a sprig of  dried rosemary from my garden when I was steeping the peppermint and it's known to stimulate your energy level. Such a lovely scent rosemary!

Here's the lowdown on the wonders of these scents on our well being.

  Lavender. This essential oil has calming properties that help control emotional stress. Lavender has a soothing effect on nerves and can relieve nervous tension and depression as well as treat headaches and migraines.

 Peppermint. Try peppermint when brainstorming. An energy booster, this scent invigorates the mind, promotes concentration and stimulates clear thinking.

 Rosemary. This is the perfect Monday morning pick-me-up. In addition to improving memory retention, rosemary has stimulating properties that fight physical exhaustion, headaches and mental fatigue.

As the girl's bath was filling, I quickly organized a few of our bathroom drawers. The best way I know to tackle doing spring cleaning, is take advantage of every spare moment and look for opportunities to tackle the little projects in those moments. Also, since I'm working on my writing, I find it's easy to keep a small voice recorder nearby so when the perfect phrase or idea comes to me, I quickly record my thoughts.......otherwise they are gone forever. Some people write whole books on their voice recorders and then transcribe them.

Maybe the peppermint and rosemary are stimulating my brain too.

If you have been wanting to rid your bathroom cupboards of shampoos loaded with sulfates, parabens and DEA, to name a few, I hope you will consider trying to make your own shampoo...it's easy, cheaper in the long run, but more importantly than all that, it's better for our bodies and our earth. I've really been thinking about how valuable our water is lately and since I wouldn't put grey water with residue from store bought shampoo directly on my vegetables growing in our backyard, why would I put them down the drain and into our water system.


Here's what I dug up on some of the additives in our shampoo..... and if you want to read more about the dirty dozen check out this link to David Suzuki's newsletter.

Sodium laureth sulfate

Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate)

Parabens

Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.

DEA-related ingredients

Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA.

Yuck! Toxins we don't need on our heads, in our water system, or on the earth. Enough said about coming clean.

 Here's my recipe for homemade Lavender/Peppermint Shampoo.

Hope's Lavender and Peppermint Shampoo

Ingredients

31/2 cups of water
1 cup of dried peppermint/...I also used a sprig of dried rosemary
1 cup of Dr. Bronner's pure castile soap...lavender scented...but you can use plain as well
1 tsp of pure jojoba oil....this makes the shampoo lather
30 -35 drops of pure lavender essential oil....since I used a lavender Bronner's Castile soap this was  just another layer of scent added

Directions

1. Bring water to boil in a small pot, add the dried peppermint/rosemary and let it steep for 15 minutes....cool well.

2. Strain the peppermint and rosemary tea and using a funnel, add it to a clean container of your 
choice. 

3. Add 1 cup of pure castile soap, 1 tsp of pure jojoba oil and finally the lavender drops.

4. Put on label...either write with marker or you can make a few cute Lavender Shampoo labels and cut out a piece of clear report divider and glue it on top of the label to keep it waterproofed.

When you are using, shake the bottle really well and pour out a tiny bit into a little cup, as it is quite watery compared to store bought shampoo. It lathers beautifully, as you can see from our little one's first bath time using it and is wonderfully fragrant.....my bathroom smelled amazing afterwards.

After their bath, I set up a hair salon appointment for each of them. One thing, I learned to do YEARS ago, was to cut hair and of course style it as well.  I can remember feeling so scared,taking a pair of scissors to my children's hair, worrying I would give them a terrible cut, but ya know, cutting hair isn't rocket science, AND, hair grows. If you make a mistake, you learn from it and you can always fix it in no time on the next cut. This has not only saved us thousands of dollars in hair dressing fees/tips,  but time making appointments and going back and forth, oh then there is the gas and energy getting to and from the salon. When you start cutting your kids hair, it just makes sense to also start thinking about their hair care products as well.....now that's being sustainable in my books.

Here's a picture of the girls, AFTER washing with our new shampoo and their Mommy Salon visit.

The little girls have very different hair. Kathryn's hair is fine and straight and Victoria's hair is curly and has more body. This homemade shampoo worked well with both of their hair types.  There is nothing I like better than kissing the tops of my kid's head....no matter their age.

Tomorrow brings a new month and more shaking up the house, shaking up my soul, and cleaning up our act towards becoming more earth friendly and sustainable. Each step we take is freeing and makes me feel so light. Joy can't help but follow and what better way to greet spring than with pure joy, oh and delightful anticipation for what is coming next. For me personally, CHICKENS...I'm reading everything I can on raising chickens and who knew it would be so interesting. What is your spring dream?

And since I've been talking about INSPIRATION lately, I thought I would include a wonderful You tube video of one of Oprah's life classes. This one on inspiration and our belief system. I miss my time with Oprah at 4 pm every afternoon, but I'm glad I can still spend moments with her whenever my heart needs her wisdom.  If you have some time and want to be INSPIRED in following your dreams,  to come cleaner with your life and how you are living it, check out this video. Here is the link, if you can't see it below click on this hyper link....Oprah's life class on believing in your best life.

Visualize your life daily, believe you can manifest your biggest dreams and then be open, allowing them to come.
                                                                   






Be still....and be inspired.

And dearest blog friends and family....

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope

Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Inspiration...or is it the other way around?

                                    
 
"Deep quiet encircles, covering us in a soft blanket of endless peace and warmth, but underneath, something is stirring, inspiration is growing and soon it will shine it's light."              ~Lee Reynolds~

January is still very much with us, with it's endless cold days and drifts of snow covering our world. We are out almost daily. Work, school, after school activities, grocery shopping, all do not stop, even though my inner voice says to be quiet, still, restore myself, and listen from within. Yesterday, I heeded that call, and thankfully, it was Saturday and the day was completely ours.

There was food in the house, no birthday parties to attend, no Saturday skating lessons, no basketball practice, and my husband David was out of town on business, and not beckoning the kids to ski with him. Besides, a few of the kids have had an annoying cough that lingers and lingers. I had kept Will home from grade one on Thursday and Friday to see if he would recover faster. A day relaxing, doing whatever our heart desires was appealing. And so we all went with it.

After Harrison"s successful bread making session the previous week, and our children's quick consumption of said bread, I decided it was my turn to create some comfort food. I didn't want to make plain  'ole bread again though. I wanted something even more memorable. That is when my eyes found the cinnamon in the spice cupboard.

.      "The spirit of delight comes in small ways" 
                                                                                                            ~Robert Louis Stevenson~

Memories of  Christmas holidays past flooded through me as I recalled baking cinnamon buns with our oldest daughter Alyssa, who for the last 2 years has been in London on her grand adventure. Ever since she was a year old and still small enough to fit in my kitchen sink, we have been baking cinnamon buns together on Christmas eve. Watching her delightful smile as she bit into the first mouthful of bun, made the day long baking effort worthwhile. When I think of her, I think of books, cats and cinnamon.

My mom Ethel was a lover of cinnamon too. I can remember as a teenager,  mom taking plain old bread, spreading butter on top, sprinkling sugar and cinnamon and toasting the pieces in the oven until the house was rich with a spicy aroma. She would cut the bread in strips and I would dunk pieces of cinnamon toast into decadent hot cocoa. Those were the days we lived in a century old home in the Creston Valley. Some of my favourite childhood memories were from my days living in the Kootenays.

From experience, I know it's those simple things that create a memorable childhood. Something I desire to create for my children. And so, while we don't live in an historic house, just a 25 year old California rancher, that has been renovated to appear "old school" inside, we can make lasting memories.

                                  




 I know we can still create that feeling with food, music, candles lit at dinner time, and old fashion entertainment, like playing cards, telling stories, curled up in bed reading books and something my kids did all day yesterday afternoon as I baked....building with blocks.

If you want to join me in making 3 loaves of cinnamon raisin bread, scroll down, but before we start to bake I wanted to share a few exciting events that have come across my path in the last week.


                                                        Moments of Inspiration

While at the little girls "Strong Start," program last week, I was talking to the teacher and was asking her what she had planned for the upcoming Spring. One of the things she was excited about was a program called, "Hatch a Chick." With funding money, she has arranged for fertile eggs to be brought into the class where they will stay warm in a table top incubator. The eggs remain in the class for 21 days, until they hatch. Once the chicks have hatched, they are put into a brooder box with a heat lamp and they remain in the classroom for 5 days to allow the kids to observe them. At that time, the farm from where they originate, takes them back. I had heard about this program last fall and I have been hinting, STRONGLY, that this is something I wanted to do. (our local Teach and Learn store provides these kits)

Later that same day, I went in to pick up William from school and I started chatting with his grade one teacher. During the conversation I happened to ask if she knew about the, "Hatch a Chick" program and she became very excited and motioned me over to her laptop computer. On the screen was a sticky note that said, "order chicks." I had to laugh over the timing. It never fails to surprise me when the Universe presents an opportunity that will bring a dream of mine to fruition.
 


I went home and asked David if we could purchase the program for the grade one class (saving Will's teacher from having to ask for funding and maybe being turned down) AND if we could keep the chicks for our urban homestead once hatched. He was not thrilled. Sadly, he doesn't share the same urban homesteading dream that I do. Yes, he likes the idea of growing more of our own food, he likes helping our environment by using less water, less non-renewable energy resources, he likes us composted our garden and kitchen wastes and recycling materials. He likes when we really think about our needs from our wants and consume accordingly. But when it comes to living animals....he is a reluctant urban farmer. It's true the kids want pets but they aren't thrilled about cleaning kitty litters or feeding their animals.We don't have a dog but I'm sure it would be a fight to get them to walk one. When I assured him that I would be responsible for the chickens, he agreed. Sometimes your inspiration may effect other people and you have to figure out what they need to make it work for them.

So dear blog readers....I am excited to say, we are going to finally move a bit closer to becoming even more sustainable by having chickens in our urban backyard. FINALLY! Our subdivision is actually in a rural part of our larger city and the motto is, "rural living at it's best." I don't exactly know what that means. Bigger lots perhaps, more privacy maybe, but for me it's going to mean space to have some CHICKENS.

I will blog about it more of course as we are now talking about chicken coops and appropriate chicken runs, cool automatic watering systems and feeders. I have about 50 books on hold right now at our local library and I'm excited to plow through them all. I had no idea there were that many books even written about urban chicken keeping. The chicks are due to arrive around the end of April to the first of May...hopefully plenty of time to get a  home built for them.

 


Another moment of Inspiration

The other thing that came up last week, is a writing workshop that I read about in our local paper. Right away, I was intrigued and knew I had to attend. When I read the facilitator is from Hope, B.C. (where I was born) and her writing has been inspired from that locale, that clinched it for me. The current book I'm working on was inspired by my time living in HOPE. Literally and figuratively.

In addition, the premise for the workshop will assist me in getting down and finishing my novel. But you know in your gut when things are right and everything is lining up don't you? I felt little bubbles of joy bursting forth as I read the day of the workshop is on the day when the little girls schedule is free. For 4 year olds they are very busy. Swimming, skating, ballet, kindermusik and usually a morning at their Strong Start program as well.

Now all I needed to arrange was someone to care for them. I forwarded the workshop information to my husband and when he came home from work that night, he had not only booked off work so I could attend the workshop, but he had signed me as well.

Then there was a hiccup and I thought it wasn't going to work for a bit.  I received an email saying I was on the wait list. The promoters had apparently received more interest than they had planned so they finally decided to run a second session but the day I was interested in was totally booked up. I was sad but hopeful and finally, I received word that one participant had decided to move to the other day, freeing up room for me. I was JUBULIANT! Things work out when they are meant to be.

Then there was one more moment when I knew everything was perfect. Why I still need this sign I don't know but David and I had gone to Harrison's basketball game mid week. We had dropped him off early and we had a 1/2 hour to kill before the game. I suggested we drive over to a local coffee place and pick up a coffee for him and a latte for me. Now, this may not be a big deal for most people but we don't treat ourselves normally. I was thinking how we could better spend the money. It all adds up. I was thinking about the deposit I had put on the chicken program, on my writing workshop and frankly I was concerned about money.

With these thoughts swirling in my brain, David and I returned to the high school gym and looked for a place to sit on the bleachers. The first section was already full when we arrived, so I motioned where we could go with my latte cup in hand. We climbed to the top of the bleachers so I could sit against the hanging gym mats and that is when I noticed something silver and shiny, sparkling behind my seat. It was a dime. Of course!

For those of you who don't know me or who haven't read my blog,  I  have to tell you that when I was de-cluttering and on my minimalism path last spring, I was finding dimes, EVERYWHERE. I took them a sign from my angels that we were moving in the right direction and money was always flowing into our lives. When I picked up this dime and showed it to David he just smiled. The next day David found out that he would have to go out of town for work on the weekend and of course, that would mean extra money coming into our home. Again, I am never surprised by how the Universe is ALWAYS working for the greater good, sending me inspiration and signs along the way that I am on the right path.

Everything that's created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.

                                                                                                               ~Dr. Wayne Dyer~

 

Interestingly enough, I have been reading a book that my sister C had recommended last year. It finally came available from our local library and again, I couldn't be more surprised over the timing. The book is called, "Big Magic," and is written by Elizabeth Gilbert, who you may remember is the author of  the popular best selling book, "Eat, Pray, Love."

                          
 



I loved that book. Recently, listening to CBC, I heard that some people thought it was too "navel gazing" which I thought was interesting. Maybe I'm not such an intellectual reader, as I thought it was uplifting and a sweet story.It made me want to cook authentic Italian food, and  learn to speak the language, it made me want to meditate for long stretches and practice my yoga, it made me want to appreciate the love of my life a little bit more because, unlike Elizabeth who had to travel to Bali to find her love, mine has been walking closely beside me for most of my life. Sometimes we have to look into another person's life to see what is in our own backyard.


Anyway, like "Eat, Pray, Love," I am enjoying, "Big Magic".....creative living beyond fear." What is most timely about this book is that I'm currently reading it while  living in the deep peace of winter, quiet and calm, but open to any and all opportunities the Universe is sending my way. Inspiration is always at my doorstep. Always knocking, asking, do you want this, experience that, adventure there? It's up to me to be grateful for these opportunities and remember to always be thankful. To graciously say, "No, that isn't for me," or "yes, yes, YES, I wish to do or have that."

I believe we are souls first, living an earthly experience. We have free will to make choices but if we stay connected to our soul, and shut out our ego, we are able to tap into the most creative part of ourselves while following life's inspirations. We can be our best selves and live our greatest life.It's all up to us.

                             Living IN SPIRIT is the true magic. 

And now, it's time to bake. Years ago, we had a bread maker which I thought was the cat's meow....does that expression date me? It was great when we had a family of 4 but now that we have a family double that size and more, one tiny loaf of bread doesn't go far. I gave our bread maker away years ago, as it was just sitting in my cupboard. I have learned to make homemade pizzas, homemade dinner buns,  and over the years I would occasionally bake some bread, but I never found the perfect recipe, UNTIL recently. I have now moved into the realm of baking bread ever since Harrison made it last week for our family. Those four loaves of bread went faster than Will sledding down our driveway. .See my post called, "Sledding Soup and Homemade bread." for the recipe.

Yesterday, I made something that I know will become a family favourite. I found the recipe on Foods.com website. When it was called the best Cinnamon Raisin Bread and received 5 stars, I thought that is exactly what I have been looking for. I was not disappointed........here's the link, "World's Best Cinnamon Raisin Bread."


 
I've written out the recipe on my blog with pictures so you can easily follow along....if you haven't baked bread yet and want to make something that will surely be a winter comfort food, I hope you try this recipe....BE INSPIRED!

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Ingredients Nutrition

Servings 36 Yield 3 loaves Units US

• 1 ¹⁄₂ cups milk
• 1 cup warm water (must be between 110-115 degrees)
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3 eggs
• ¹⁄₂ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¹⁄₂ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup raisins
• 8 cups all purpose flour...I used 6 cups of white to 2 cups of whole wheat)
  
• 2 tablespoons  milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon 
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted (approx.)

Directions

1. Warm the milk in a small sauce pan on the stove until it just starts to bubble, stirring occasionally.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Let cool until lukewarm, about 120-125 degrees.

 4. Dissolve the yeast in warm water with 1 tbsp of sugar.....yeast doesn't activate without sugar) and set aside in a warm place until the yeast is frothy, about 10 minutes.

1. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   5. Then mix in eggs, sugar, butter, salt, raisins, and add the cooled milk slowly so you don't cook the eggs. 
   
   
   6. Add the flour gradually to make a stiff dough.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   7. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, until the dough is smooth...a bit glossy
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   8. Place in a LARGE, buttered mixing bowl and turn it to grease the surface of all sides of the dough.
   
   
   
   9. Cover with a damp dish cloth and let rise in a place without drafts. I allow mine to rise on the counter next to our stove...under our upper cabinet lighting....they give off a warm glow....allow to rise for 11/2 hours until the dough doubles 
   
   
   10. Once it has risen.....roll out on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a large rectangle, 1/2 inch thick.
   
   11. Moisten the dough with 2 tbsp of milk and rub all over the dough with your hands.
   
   
   
   12. Mix 1 cup of sugar and 3 tbsp of cinnamon and sprinkle mixture evenly over the top of the moistened dough.
   
   13. Roll up tightly,...the long way.
   
   
   
   
   
   14. The roll should be about 3 inches in diameter.
   
   15. Cut into thirds, and tuck ends under and pinch bottom together tightly.
   
   
   
   
   
   16. Place the 3 loaves into well greased pans...9x5 size and lightly grease tops of the loaves.....you can use Crisco or butter to grease the pans and grease the tops
   
   
   
   
   
   17. Let rise in a warm place, uncovered, again for about an hour (This recipe can make 4 loaves as well....I just baked another batch and rolled it out a bit longer and cut the dough into 4 sections....it made 4 nice size loaves...great.....as it gets eaten REALLY fast)
   
   18. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (the original recipe called for a 45 time but my new oven is efficient and did the bread perfectly in 30 mins....WATCH CLOSELY...if I had waited for 45 minutes my bread would have been really dry) or until loaves are lightly browned and sound hollow when tapped.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   19. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack
   
   20. Melt butter and spread on the tops of the loaves with a brush.
   
   21. After about 20 minutes, lay the loaves on their sides and remove from pans.
   
   22. Allow to cool completely before slicing....one loaf was almost gone by the time I remembered to take a picture for my blog.....these loaves go fast! and 22 steps is WORTH IT!
   
   
   
   My older son said this bread reminded him of our cinnamon buns.....so I think we found a winner. As I write this, we are down to our last loaf....and the kids are looking forward to having cinnamon raisin toast for breakfast tomorrow morning. Wish you were here for breakfast!
   
   Want future inspiration? Over Christmas I stumbled across a cool couple who are living with their family of 5 off grid. Recently, the homestead wife, Esther, made bread and you can watch her on their Youtube channel. Their site is called, "Fouch-o-matic Off Grid." I'd love to introduce you to this lovely couple who make me happy and inspired whenever I watch one of their videos. Check them out and help support them by subscribing to their channel.
   
   If you can't see their Youtube video below, click on this hyper-link.....
   
    The Homestead Wife makes bread
   
   
   
   
    Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
   
   Blessings from Hope
   
   

Sledding, Soup and Homemade Bread

              

 
Oh sweet January. In past years, I haven't embraced it as fully as I am doing this year. Each month seems bittersweet and the days are flying by all too fast for me. I thought I would slow things down a bit and say yes more.

Yes, to staying in bed on Saturday mornings, luxuriating in the slow pace that I have created. Yes, to curling up in my favourite chair, sinking into a good book, while my little ones are engrossed in playing a game of their choosing. Yes, to letting all the kids head outside for one more play in the snow, even though they "should" be practicing cello, piano or doing home work.

I can hear them laughing and shrieking with glee as they slide down our driveway. It's snowing too hard to stay on top of shoveling it.  I can nest inside, making a pot of aromatic chicken and wild rice soup....and maybe there is still a loaf of homemade bread to accompany it.

This feels so good, savouring another winter month and experiencing all the senses of the season. Shorter days, full of white and dark. Magical moments watching the snow gently fall, feeling the excitement bubbling from our little ones as I bundle them up for another adventure making snow forts, snowman, and of course, their favourite, sledding in our yard. Does life get any better than this?

No matter where you live in the world, you can choose to make the days richer. Slow them down by saying yes to what you love.

Today, I made the most delicious chicken and wild rice soup. It was amazing. Now I make a lot of soups. Almost every week in the winter I make at least one big pot and lately, I have been experimenting with whatever we have in the house, THAT, is what goes in the pot. This makes for some interesting combinations. Today, since a few of our family members have had a persistent cough, I thought what we needed was an old fashion chicken and rice soup. Easy on the tummy and apparently, chicken soup is good for colds.


It was just what we all needed. I pulled out the last loaf of bread Harrison made on the weekend. He had made 4 loaves and there is one loaf left.... it's only Monday. Then I threw together a green salad and voila...dinner was served. So say yes to sledding....or whatever you do in your part of the world and say yes to making a big pot of heart warming soup with homemade bread. It's really that easy.

Hope's Chicken and Wild Rice/quinoa Soup

Ingredients

*1/4 of extra virgin oil
* 3 chopped garlic cloves
*1 finely chopped onion
*1/2 cup chopped celery
*1 cup sliced carrots
*3/4 cups all purpose flour
*10 cups of chicken broth
*3 cups of wild rice/quinoa
*1 cup of cooked and cut up chicken
*1/2 tsp chili powder
*1/2 tsp cumin powder
*1/2 tsp mustard powder
*1 tsp dried parsley
*1 tsp dried basil
*Sea salt...to taste
*Ground pepper to taste
*2 cups of milk
 Optional....I used what I had in the house....but had I had some fresh mushrooms and broccoli....I would have chopped them and put them in....use what you have......what you LOVE.

Directions

1. Throw one chicken breast into the oven and cook for 45 minutes at 400 degrees

2. Cook 1 cup of wild rice/quinoa...equates to 3 cups once cooked 

3. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot, stir in garlic, onion, celery, and carrots. Saute for 5 minutes until onions are translucent. (If you have mushrooms....add them next...saute for another few minutes. 

4. Add flour to the pot and stir well. Gradually add the 10 cups of chicken broth. 

5. Heat well, bringing almost to a boil...reduce heat and simmer while the chicken and rice and quinoa is cooked.

6. Add the cooked wild rice and quinoa, along with the chili powder, cumin, mustard powder, parsley, basil, pepper and salt. 

6. Once the chicken is cooked, cut up into small pieces and add to the soup pot.

7. Add 2 cups of milk and heat through...simmer until you are ready to eat. 

 

And now for the recipe for the bread that my 17 year old made on the weekend.....he is taking Foods 11 on line and this was his first foray into bread making....the loaves turned out beautifully!


Harrison's Homemade Bread

Ingredients

Lots of flour....roughly 5 cups of white....1 cup of whole wheat...keep mixing until it's the right consistency
5 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon salt
4 tablespoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup of sugar
4 cups of lukewarm water

Directions: (note these are Harrison's directions)

Add 4 cups of lukewarm water to bowl, add ½ cup of sugar.  After mixing water and sugar together add 4 tbsp. of yeast.  Let proof for 10 minutes. 

Once yeast is bubbly and frothy... add 1 tbsp. of salt, 5 tbsp. oil, stir, then add flour 1 cup at a time, until you reach the desired consistency of dough you are looking for. 

Now turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead until you get a smooth ball of dough that is not sticking to the table at all.

Next, grab your second bowl, lightly coat it in oil, and place your ball of dough into it.  Cover, and let rise for 1 hour.  You are looking for your dough to at least double in size.  After the dough has risen, you will punch it down, and turn it out onto a floured surface again.  This time we are going to divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll them into a log shape to fit in the bread pans. 

 Grease your bread pans with butter, place your dough in the pans, cover them and let rise for half an hour.  Then put your bread in the over at 375F for 25 minutes.  Flip them out of their pans, and apply a very light coat of butter to the crust of the bread. This is to keep it soft, and to not dry out.

The little ones came in from sledding and had their hot cocoa with Harrison's homemade bread....January is SWEET!

Our oldest son said this was one of his fav soups...high praise!

While the soup was simmering, I made a batch of oatmeal/raisin cookies, full of spices. The house smelled marvelous!

Sledding in new snow, baking bread and making soup........
 




 

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope