Where I've Been

Where I've Been

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It's a big world out there! Travel is in my bones. Can't wait to take on more of the world!

Minimalism 2YO

As we try to pack our house, I keep coming across things that the sentimentalist (read: hoarder) wants to keep, while the minimalist keeps screaming "get rid of it!"

One such thing was my daughter's first colouring book. It was dog-eared and had pages ripped out of it, but she had coloured in it from cover to cover... and I literally mean even the covers! She loves to "dolour" :)

photo credit: candycanedisco via photopin cc

In that moment of fleeting nostalgia, I thought I should keep it to show her one day. Or perhaps photograph it. I wasn't sure I was ready to toss it, when suddenly my wonderings were shattered by my daughter bursting into tears. 

Her potty training had missed the potty.

I clamoured to race her to the potty, briefly surveying the scene and what needed cleaning, when my eyes happened upon her colouring book.

It had taken the brunt of the damage, saving my carpet from a soaking.

I started laughing.

Minimalism: the two-year-old edition.

So we bought a farm

I feel like Matt Damon a lot these days. 

When I tell my city friends we bought a farm, I get the same kinds of looks he got when he tells his kids "we bought a zoo."

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It is truly wonderful and terrifying all rolled into one. The best part? We have to be out of our house in two days. The same two days in which my daughter whom I swore I would always give a special SEPARATE birthday party for (so it doesn't get lumped into Christmas) turns two... And our other one gets dedicated. Do we know how to pick them or what?! You could argue we could do both another time, but with everyone here for Christmas, it just makes sense.

But back to the farm. There are no "tame" animals yet - by that I mean none that the owners have bought. However, there are mice (I already found a kitten to take care of them, thank you very much) and likely other wild animals of the larger variety - coyotes and deer. 

But no. There are no ponies. I'm raising two under two, why would I want to care for a pony too? (I try to say with a smile on my face every time people ask). No chickens either. It's winter. Why would I want to add to my chore list, outside, in the freezing cold?

photo credit: Five Furlongs via photopin cc

My husband on the other hand has kept his ears open for animals being sold in the area, and his most recent finds? A buffalo and a llama. Um? No. And after an episode of Dragons Den, he thought a kangaroo would be cool (and admittedly, it would be!), but since we in fact bought a farm and NOT a zoo, that one is less likely.

Phew. Dodge a bullet there ;)

I really am excited though. We've been praying for this farm for seven years. Seven years! I also feel a bit like Jacob waiting for Rachel. How all of the details have worked out to this point can only be God, and will be an amazing addition to our collection of "remember when God did ..." for our family. 

So be bought a farm and I keep having this strange urge say "ya'll" :)

Ya'll, we bought a farm! 

I like your {buns}!

I love the smell of fresh bread.

As busy as our household can be with two under two, I try to still bake bread once a week to help my house smell home-y and yummy. I always smile when people come to my house and tell me "it smells delicious!" I smile because I agree.

Here's my favourite recipe -

No-Knead (Bread) Dough

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups warm water

1 T. quick-rise yeast

2 tsp. salt

2 T. oil

6 cups of white flour (alternative: 3 cups white, 3 cups multigrain)

Steps:

1. Sprinkle yeast over water. Set aside 5 minutes.
2.  Add to the yeast mixture salt and oil. Mix.
3. Add 6 cups of flour. Mix until smooth/elastic dough.
4. Sprinkle with flour/”grease” with oil. Cover with cling-wrap and allow to rise in bowl for 1 hour. (Can speed it up by placing it in the oven with the light ON.)
5. Divide and shape into portions. Allow to rise uncovered for 1 hour. Again, can speed it up by placing it in the oven with the light on.
1.  Thirds: 2 loaves (9x3x5) and 1 pan of buns (8x8)
2. Half: pizza dough and 6 hamburger buns
3.  9x13 + 8x8 of cinnamon buns/regular buns
4.  And many more combinations!

6.Bake according to portions:

1. Loaves: 375F for 30 minutes
2.  Buns: 350F for 20 minutes
3.  Pizza: (once topped) 450F for 10-12 minutes

And unfortunately for you we tucked into them before I got anymore photos.....mmmm :)

(Borrowed & adapted from Erin Leschert who borrowed & adapted from WM Cookbook!)

If...

... I was single, with no kids, there's a certain appeal to this:

Danny Macaskill: The Ridge

Beautiful. Inspirational.  Wow.

Very Hounds of the Baskerville-esque

There is just something about a misty day.

One of my all-time favourite scenes from a movie comes from the 2005 re-make of Pride and Prejudice, when Mr. Darcy emerges from the mist on that early morning and stammers and stutters his "I love you" to Miss Elizabeth.

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My heart melts and soars simultaneously - the sentiment behind his words, the magical nature of the English weather and its countryside. What girl wouldn't be swept off of her feet? Yet as romantic as the mist is, it usually brings to mind much more ominous thoughts than this romantic scene.....

Last summer, when our family had our own European adventure, my husband happened to see a sign to "Castle Drogo" on the highway, remembering the name from an architectural book he had at home, he thought it warranted a detour.

As we wound our way through the English countryside, the mist was thick, the hedges were high, and the single-lane road was deserted. We merely relied on the Sat-Nav, which had mostly been reliable as we hoped to be heading towards the castle. All I could think of were the scenes from the mystery novels I had devoured as a child... nothing good comes out of the mist (except for Mr. Darcy, whom I had forgotten for the moment) ... and I was convinced we were going to meet our demise.

The roadway leading to Drogo

Upon arrival at the Castle, I rather happily (and gratefully!) discovered that we were not the only people who had made this particular journey; there was no axe-murderer waiting to end our lives. I was relieved and joked with the cashier about the weather being typically English, very spooky and mysterious at the same time. He replied quite matter-of-factly to this, "why yes, it is very Hounds of the Baskerville-esque!"And that phrase has stuck.

Today, as I drove my daughter and I to the Good Friday service, the mist was thick and soupy; trees and buildings would suddenly appear and then disappear as the mist enveloped them, and all I could think about was the drive to Drogo, and how very Hounds of the Baskerville-esque the weather is today.

The view on the way to Church

Eek!

My Travelling posts had to take a short hiatus as I've been busting my butt work-wise these last few weeks.

But, after reading these two blogs this morning, I felt a little convicted!

Writing About a Good Life Requires Living that Life  - Tsh's writing always makes me stop and ponder...

and

At Some Point You Have to Stop Reading Blogs - this has been a back and forth struggle for a long time for me. I love to consume and consume and consume... but I need to create too... this breathes new life into me!

I'm living my dream right now. Taking chances. It's scary, but it's worth it!