[re]nesting.

2012-03-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

dark brahma.

buff orpington.

light brahma.

we did it.

i finally have six little chicks of my own!

it was kind of hard to choose which breeds but i think we did good...

they are all three supposed to be good layers and gentle.

the brahmas are especially fun because they grow feathers on their feet.

now we need to name them...

2012-03-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

On a recycling note, here is a link to Sunset magazine's feature on the Zero Waste Home.

You can also watch different videos about the home starting with this link.

2012-03-09T11:14:00.000-05:00

i finally made my own laundry detergent using this simple recipe.

my laundry looks and smells clean so it has been working great so far!

and i am pretty sure i am saving a good chunk of change by making my own.

------

i went by southern states yesterday to buy pansies and just happened to stop and look at the baby chickens and ducks for sale.

we are still discussing things and have to make sure it is legal to have chickens in the village but i have high hopes our animal family will be growing soon!

2012-03-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

dirt under my nails.

garden boots on.

it feels good to be out digging and raking and weeding and dreaming of the spring to come.

2012-03-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

today i became an expert at using a circular saw.

here's how:

back in august jeremiah and i dug up a patch a ground for a garden.

well it turns out that patch of ground is also a mini swamp which is in no way a suitable place for little seedlings.

so this morning we woke up on a mission to solve that problem.

the end result was six raised beds made out of bamboo.

besides there being a mini swamp on the property, there is also a bamboo forest.

i spent most of the day cutting bamboo into four foot poles while jeremiah constructed the beds.

we are pretty happy with the end product!

i hope to get them filled with soil this coming week and maybe get a few early spring crops started as well.

p.s. go heels!

2012-03-02T15:23:00.000-05:00

a few ways jeremiah and i reduce waste in our home...

the most common way we reduce the use of paper towels is by using dish towels and rags.

i always have a towel hanging for wiping off wet hands and another for wiping off wet dishes.

i also use a small rag for wiping off the countertops and little spills.

i change my towels every few days or right after one gets heavily soiled.

we don't use paper napkins either.

i have an assorted collection of cloth napkins...

small ones for not too messy meals,

thicker napkins for messier meals,

and large napkins for wrapping up dry food (slice of bread, muffin, etc) for on the go.

another way we replace paper towels is with scrap rags and towels.

back in charlotte, i bought a large trash bag full of rags and towels from a thrift store for $5.

i have been using them since to clean up all sorts of spills and to do my basic cleaning.

i have small rags for the cleaning the bathroom, etc.,

medium size rags for spills,

and large towels for wiping off a wet puppy, cleaning big spills, etc.

i love this method and rarely use paper towels for cleanup.

a simple and very ladylike way to avoid using tissues is to use hankies instead!

i much rather blow my nose on pretty hankie rather than a scratchy tissue.

keep a large supply on hand for prolonged sick days.

2012-03-01T20:16:00.000-05:00

a garden grows...

2012-02-29T13:25:00.002-05:00

the word "machina" is cut into this rusty piece of metal.
machina (muh-keen-ah) was the name given to the ministry/community we were apart of in charlotte.
this piece of metal came from a burn barrel we had at our old house.
we didn't want to let go of the machina carved into the barrel so jeremiah cut it out.
now it sits on our back porch here in amelia and is one of selva's chosen nap spots.

charlotte has been on my mind lately.
it hit pretty clearly the other day that the time we had there is over.
i didn't think i would ever really miss charlotte but i kind of did the other day.
i mostly miss my friends and the time we shared there together.
most of us don't even call the queen city home anymore.
we have all spread out over the east coast.
it was pretty cool to see how the Lord brought us together for a period of time and then spread most of us apart within months of each other.
jeremiah and i believe that we will share life together like we did in charlotte with some of these dear friends again.

2012-02-25T21:24:00.000-05:00

mom all snuggled up.

the apheresis machine.

it was designed fifty some years ago by a man whose son died of leukemia.

mom's life saving blood stem cells!

the other day my mom did a pretty cool thing.

she donated her blood stem cells to someone she does not know.

mom was registered with Be the Match Registry and was recently contacted by them when they found she was a match for a 67-year-old man suffering from CLL leukemia.

mom donated her blood stem cells (the same cells that can be donated from bone marrow) through a process called apheresis.

we won't know how the transplant went for the man for a few months.

registering on the list is easy as pie!

you can simply sign up on Be the Match and they will send you a kit with four q-tips.

you simply swab your mouth with the q-tips and mail them back.

why not sign up today?

you could help save a life like my mom!

2012-02-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

it finally snowed!

it was wake's first snow.

as seen in the last picture, he loved it!

and he loved eating it as well.

unsweetened applesauce from smitten kitchen.

2012-02-22T23:23:00.001-05:00

the other week i had an overflow of apples from dumpster diving.

so what better thing to do than to make applesauce?

i used this recipe from smitten kitchen.

in place of lemon peel i used orange peel and i did not puree the finished product.

it was delightfully sweet even though no sugar was added and it was oh so easy to make.

i highly recommend this recipe for kids and adults alike!

2012-02-15T16:01:00.001-05:00

this past weekend, wake and i went to chapel hill to visit some of my dearest friends!

we camped over at the miller house which is a lovely log cabin style home out in the country.

we did lots of cooking and eating and chatting and laughing.

we also went to one of my most favorite restaurants, milltown, in carrboro.

how i miss the sights and sounds of chapel hill!

and how i miss my dear friends' sweet faces even more!

2012-02-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

A new favorite blog: Zero Waste Home.

Check it out for some good ideas on how to reduce waste in your home.

homemade pasta from martha.

2012-02-06T18:59:00.002-05:00

the other day i made my first batch of homemade pasta.

i received a set of 3 pasta attachments for my kitchen aid mixer at christmas and i have been wanting to try them out.

the pasta was surprisingly easy to make.

i used martha stewart's recipe for fresh lasagna noodles.

i did substitute one cup semolina flour for one cup of the AP flour.

2012-02-03T17:06:00.000-05:00

a sweet little package from a sweet friend.

2012-02-02T22:34:00.000-05:00

sit with me and tell me once again
of the story that's been told us
of the power that will hold us
of the beauty, of the beauty
why it matters

speak to me until I understand
why our thinking and creating
why our efforts of narrating
about the beauty, of the beauty
and why it matters

.sara groves.

cranberry banana bread from my new roots.

2012-02-01T16:52:00.001-05:00

cranberry banana bread.

one of the fun things about dumpster diving is figuring out what to do with what you find.

this bread is a result of some ugly looking bananas and a stash of cranberries.

i used the recipe from my new roots blog.

i did not add any nuts or chocolate (although the next time i plan on doing so!).

instead of spelt flour, i used whole wheat flour.

and, of course, i added a cup of fresh cranberries.

it's best served warm.

and is great with a cup of coffee!

2012-01-31T13:53:00.001-05:00

what do you do with empty jars and cans and bottles and vases and containers and the like?

here's what i like to do with them:

fill them with grains and seeds and fruit.

(and display them on the mantle in the kitchen)

fill with birdseed.

(and use as a doorstop)

fill with paintbrushes and colored pencils.

(and keep within arm's reach for easy access)

fill with tea bags.

(to keep things organized in the cupboard)

fill with pretty flowers.

(and place throughout the house)

fill with ribbons and trims.

(to keep the sewing room a little more tidy)

fill with leftovers.

2012-01-30T14:05:00.001-05:00

more goods from the dumpster.
apples, oranges, potatoes, beets, bananas, broccoli, onions, bags of lettuce, jalapenos, flowers...
the second photo is all organic lettuce, seven containers worth, and that's not including what i have already opened.
all of this was pulled from a dumpster where it would have otherwise ended up in landfill, rotting.
now it serves as food and nutrition for us. and more money in our wallets.

as i was washing everything, it hit me.
there is no way jeremiah and i can eat all of this before it really goes bad so what to do with it?
what if there was a way to get this to people who really need food or just need help supplementing what they can buy at the store?
i know. this is no new concept. no big idea. it's already happening all over the place.
but does it exists here in little rural amelia county in the heart of va?
that's what i intend to find out.

please be in prayer for jeremiah and me as we explore this potential ministry for amelia.
if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to comment!

2012-01-27T17:27:00.001-05:00

around here.

today i made a batch of these tasty cookies.

i used cranberry and strawberry jam and i bypassed the hearts.

just simple thumbprints.

here is a gourd birdhouse i purchased in farmville the other day.

i walked into a store that i thought would be up my alley and it definitely was not.

the minute i walk in, i see an older woman to my left painting a gourd birdhouse and then an older man to my right weaving a basket.

it's a small store and no one else was in there.

i tried not to panic and decided to just walk around for few minutes and pretend like i was interested in what they were selling.

unfortunately, there was not much there to peak my interest.

a lot of painted blocks of woods with different sayings on them and painted birdhouses.

just not my style.

and then i saw this gourd birdhouse for $4.50.

simple and beautiful to me.

come to find out most everything in the store was made by their hands...and the gourds were grown by them.

i was impressed and glad to support them.

i am happy with my little purchase.

come spring i might put it out for the birds but for now, i will happily keep it displayed in my kitchen.

easy little bread from 101 cookbooks.

2012-01-26T14:53:00.002-05:00

yesterday i went in search of a hearty snack for jeremiah and me.

i stumbled upon this sweet little bread recipe on 101 cookbooks.

it's an easy recipe made up of simple ingredients and very little prep time.

i highly recommend giving it a try.

a quick note on yeast.

when i first started buying yeast, i would buy those little individual packets at the grocery store.

and then i learned better.

as far as i can tell, it's crap.

i discovered this when i recently bought yeast from the co-op in my hometown.

they sell yeast in bulk and when i went to open and scoop out what i wanted, the yeast was literally jumping/popping.

jeremiah was there. he can back me up on this.

it was alive.

and it looked like individual grains rather than the dusty stuff from the packets.

and when i used it to bake, it bubbled up beautifully.

i am pretty sure that is what yeast is suppose to be like.

so look for the good stuff.

i found some where i live at a mennonite market.

any local health food store or co-op probably sells it.

mix yeast with warm water. then add the honey.

i always use a whisk to better mix the yeast with the water.

in a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

once the yeast mixture is ready, add it to the dry mixture.

stir until everything is well mixed.

place dough in an oiled loaf pan and cover with a damp cloth.

place in a warm spot to rise for 30 minutes or so.

bake.

to make sure my bread is done, i always check the bottom.

always give your bread time to "rest" (cool off on a rack) before slicing.

2012-01-24T22:08:00.000-05:00

yesterday was cold, grey and foggy.

a perfect day for a cozy birthday spent sewing.

2012-01-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

i have a new sewing project on my hands.
this is a photo of a project i worked on a few weeks back.
i made a patchwork bib for a new cousin of mine.
unfortunately i forgot to take pictures of the finished product.

now i am working on a making a dress for my aunt-in-law's wedding in april.
i am so excited about my new project that i find myself occasionally day dreaming about it.
with this new project, i am trying to teach myself how to custom fit a pattern.
sometimes a pattern needs some tweaking here and there to make it fit your body shape correctly.
adjusting the pattern to fit your dimensions will dramatically change the look of your finished product and probably save you a lot of heartache and frustration in the end.

here are links to a video series and a few blogs that i find helpful and inspiring in the sewing department...

Gertie's Guide to Tissue Fitting a Pattern, Part One - this video series is my number one aid in helping me to custom fit my pattern

Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing

Adventures in Dressmaking

Tilly and the Buttons

i plan on posting pictures of my new sewing project throughout its construction.
it's a very simple pattern but will probably take me a while to create.
i hope one day to be a highly skilled seamstress like the women on the blogs mentioned above.
it won't happen overnight or without some trial and error so i will keep plugging along project by project and try to teach myself new skills and new techniques with each new one.

2012-01-18T16:20:00.002-05:00

some lovely flowers rescued from a dumpster.
--------------------------------------------------------
anxiety sucks.
sometimes i just want to crawl into bed and not face the world.
but i am learning to fight it.
most of all, i am beginning to consider letting G-d have it.
for some reason, i won't trust Him with all my fears and anxieties when He is the answer to them all.
one day...
maybe one day soon...
i will let Him have that piece of my heart.

2012-01-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

baby isaac came to visit!

he is special to my heart.

this lad was the first live birth i witnessed.

watching him being born was hands down one of the most amazing things i have ever experienced.

almost a year after seeing him come into the world, i have started studying to become a doula.

what's a doula?

go here to find out.

2012-01-12T23:11:00.003-05:00

items found.

being washed.

laid out to dry.

our picks: grapefruit, tangelos, limes, green onions, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, peppers ,cheese, yogurt, carton of oj & roses.

let's talk about dumpster diving.

if jeremiah and i were to make a list of our favorite things to do together, it would definitely be one of them.

were an odd couple.

when winter rolls around, our minds return to happy thoughts of all the goodies we can find in our local grocer's trash.

for some reason, we hadn't thought of diving here in amelia until just the other day.

unfortunately there is no trader joe's nearby (which is the cream of the crop) but food lion works just fine.

after a successful dive, i decided to mark the occasion by doing this post.

most people are skeptical (and disgusted) by the thought of dumpster diving.

rightly so.

i decided i wanted to make a list of "jeremiah & meg's do's & don'ts of dumpster diving" to maybe clarify some misconceptions and thoughts about the whole eating out of a dumpster thing.

1. we only dive in the winter when the temperatures are cold. summer is not the time to dive unless you know the food was just thrown out.

2. we leave the dumpster cleaner than we found it. we think it is inconsiderate and just stupid to make a mess or to vandalize anything when diving. we try to be respectful of what is someone else's property.

3. if we know other people are diving in the area, we take only what we need.

4. we collect fruits, veggies, packaged items and flowers. no meat for us. surprisingly, most dumpsters are somewhat organized...it's not just one giant heap of rotting food. usually, there are individual cardboard boxes full of items. one may be full of veggies or fruits that got tossed that day because they aren't at their peak or one piece of fruit is rotten in the bag. other boxes may have items that are expired or close to their expiration date (i find that they often throw things out a day or two before their expiration).

5. here is my routine for processing what we find:

a) everything is inspected on site and then again when brought home. i definitely do not play around with anything that looks questionable.

b) once it passes inspection, everything is thoroughly washed with hot water (even items that are packaged unless it is cardboard).

c) most vegetables i will peel the outer layer before cooking. fruit is usually good to go because of the rind. packaged items are the same way. for example, jeremiah found boxes of cookies the other night. within the box, each cookie was individually wrapped. they were as good as new.

diving can be a lot of fun and really satisfying.

it's amazing how much is thrown out and wasted.

sometimes it's just shocking.

jeremiah and i are not nasty people or so dirt poor we have to pick through the trash (but it does help with the grocery bill).

dumpster diving is just one more way for us to be resourceful with what would have just ended up rotting in a landfill somewhere.

and just for the record, i have never actually climbed in a dumpster (at least i don't remember).

it's usually the husband who does that job and i just take what he hands me. sometimes i just stay in the car.

and that reminds me...

6. wear appropriate attire. put on some gloves. bring a headlamp or flashlight.

p.s. I am not sure why certain words are highlighted in this post. I am troubleshooting that to see if I can get rid of the links. Please disregard them.

2012-01-10T22:48:00.000-05:00

i went to work with jeremiah again.

this time i packed lunch.

a coworker of his told him about a nearby spring where the locals go to get the freshest water around.

naturally we went in search of it (more like jeremiah searched and i voiced all my hesitations about possibly trespassing on someone else's land, etc.).

well we found a graveled road but no spring.

but we still had a lovely picnic (on someone else's land).

2012-01-06T08:17:00.002-05:00

so two days ago i went to work with jeremiah...

more like he went to work and i explored the surrounding town.

when we arrived at his workplace, i jumped in the driver's seat and went in search of a place to spend my morning.

(side note: due to a few car issues, we are down to one car at the moment so in order to escape the house and experience civilization, i chose to go to work with the husband).

well it just so happens the only place opened at 7 in the morning in farmville is mcdonald's.

and that is where i broke my detox with a yogurt and a plain biscuit.

mcdonald's is not my favorite establishment around and is forever on the bottom of places I want to eat at but when it's 7 in the morning and 15 degrees outside, it's tempting.

honestly, this is not how i envisioned breaking my detox but, given the circumstances, it worked.

after filling up my belly, i spent the rest of the day exploring, putting in job applications and doing a little "homework".

it was a really nice day out of the house and it helped to brighten my spirits quite a bit.

i am hoping to spend more time in farmville volunteering at a pregnancy center and working part-time somewhere.

slowly we are taking small steps to get ourselves settled in this new place.

it's quite encouraging.

2012-01-02T19:41:00.001-05:00

photos from alex & celena's home.

this cabinet is one of my favorite parts of their lovely abode!

so jeremiah and i started our cleanse today...

i've got the water part down.

as far as just steamed rice & veggies for the next four days, that's going to be the challenge.

i am already dreading the sight of steamed carrots.

2012-01-01T19:17:00.003-05:00

2012.

what in the world!

sometimes i still think i am in the twentieth century and then i realize i am well into the twenty-first.

last night we celebrated in richmond with our dear friends, alex & celena.

right before midnight, we headed over to carytown to watch the ball rise...yes, rise.

it was so much fun standing in the middle of the street with numerous, numerous others and counting down the new year in one booming voice.

after watching the ball rise, we headed over to cookout to toast in the new year.

i welcomed 2012 with a coke and onion rings.

today has been spent at home.

jeremiah, ever the loyal fan, watched the redskins lose again.

for dinner, we had the traditional collards & black eyed peas. yummy.

now we are still watching football and jeremiah is slowly losing all hope of winning his fantasy football league's championship.

tomorrow we start a five day detox based on this post.

our bodies are in big need of a cleansing after two weeks of vacation from eating relatively healthy.

this is going to be interesting!

2011-12-29T22:11:00.001-05:00

via la tartine gourmande.

quiet evening spent reading and reading in my parents' living room.

we have a little cozy fire burning.

i split my first logs tonight for our little fire.

what an empowering feeling to fill the hearth with an armful of wood that i helped chop with my own two hands!

(well, in all honesty, the logs were already split but i just split the logs further so that they would burn easier...i still raised an ax above my head and made one log into two! i'll tackle the whole logs later.)

tonight i have been reading and reading about all things to do with homesteading.

my mind is running wild with thoughts about chickens and gardens and foraging and much more.

i borrowed a lovely little book from a friend last night (Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich).

i started reading it today and am now overloaded with thoughts and ideas and imaginings of what i could do.

it has rekindled in me some of my early aspirations and goals for amelia and now i feel recharged and ready for our return home to country life.

2011-12-27T19:46:00.000-05:00

merry christmas, a few days late!

hope your christmas was filled with delicious treats like these!

jeremiah and i were most spoiled this christmas.

i received so many new toys for my kitchen, the most notable being a pasta maker attachment and a flour grinder attachment for my kitchen aid mixer!

i can't wait to get back into my kitchen to try everything out...

but i will gladly spend a few more days here in nc relaxing with my family.

2011-12-17T23:48:00.000-05:00

happy december seventeenth!

it is now officially christmas break for the austin family!

jeremiah and i are in the process of family hopping...nc to texas to nc again.

it's definitely the best time of year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

on a different note, today has been filled with thoughts on weight...my body weight to be exact.

what brought this on?

jean shopping.

do i want to sound like a stereotypical girl right now? no.

but, really, shopping for things like jeans can bring out this most stereotypical worry for any girl.

[as can other things, like eating (while other people are refraining) and exercising (when you are not the one doing it].

i am pretty okay with my body, but i do have my own worries and insecurities about it.

i have accepted the fact that i will never be a size 2 or anywhere close to a 110 pounds ever again.

i could probably tailor my diet and exercise routine enough to get somewhere close to those numbers but, in all honesty, i have no desire (zero) to put that much worry and obsession (as i know it would become for me) into something.

it would have absolutely nothing to do with my health.

and that's where the issue lies.

health.

the only reason i want to care about my body weight is because i care about my health.

not because i care about what i look like in a swimsuit or in a pair jeans.

yes, i want to look pretty.

but i want to be okay if i can't fit into a skinny pair of jeans because i have thighs and a behind that make jeans that hug my ankles look ridiculous.

or that i can't wear a certain cut of a dress because i have a chest and a behind, once again, and would end up looking falsely pregnant rather than fashionable.

i want to watch how much sugar i intake or the amount of food i eat at a meal or how much i exercise a week because i care about my overall health.

because when i am 80 i want to be able to touch my toes and go for long walks and do yoga.

i am sick, sick, sick of comparing myself and beating up myself and not appreciating what i do have.

i can't do this for the rest of my life.

i can't play this game with other girls.

i just cannot stand to think of dealing constantly with this issue of weight for the rest of my life but i know i will.

but in the midst of the struggle, i am determined to fight a few things.

number one being the self-condemning and body-analyzing talk, especially with other ladies.

i want to be able to admit my flaws or a goal i may have, but all in a healthy, positive manner.

that's it.

not easy but simple.

there is so much more i could write about this but my train of thought has left me and i feel pretty relieved by what i have written already.

i don't want to sound like i am coming down on people who do work really hard at having a well-oiled machine of a body.

it's impressive.

but it's not me.

and i am learning to be okay with that.

2011-12-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

happy december fourteenth!

here is a lovely set of pastels that jeremiah gave me for one of my advent gifts.

i wish this photo could properly display the beautiful rainbow of colors.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

things are quiet here today.

as they are everyday.

although there is a little bit of snoring going on by a certain puppy.

today is overcast which seems to only amplify the bare, brown trees.

oh i wish it would snow!

i set aside today for baking christmas cookies for jeremiah's coworkers.

the kitchen is full of butter, sugar, molasses, eggs and flour.

now i just need to pick a handful of tasty recipes to concoct and a good christmas movie to watch.

2011-12-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

happy december twelfth!

we went on a tacky christmas lights tour in richmond this past weekend.

people actually pay to ride around in a limo to look at lights...

but alex and celena had a better idea.

why not just follow the limo in your own car?

and that's what we four did.

and this is some of what we saw.

2011-12-11T18:49:00.000-05:00

happy december eleventh!

lazy sunday here at the austin household.

reading in bed with sweet luna bean...

with sounds of football on the tv in the background.

one more week to go before jeremiah gets two weeks off for christmas!

2011-12-08T22:28:00.000-05:00

happy december eighth!

the sewing bug has bitten...

right in the middle of the holidays.

simplicity patterns are on sale at hobby lobby for .99 cents!

i bought 3 patterns yesterday and started the easiest one today.

i also made a pinafore for one of my close friend's nieces.

i love the design and colors of the fabric.

the pattern is from this lovely little book.

it's great to be in front of my sewing machine again.

it's been too long.

easy-to-make rice-filled hand warmers.

2011-12-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

happy december seventh!

here is an easy project to make at home for the holidays.

it would make a great stocking stuffer or small Christmas package for a friend.

also consider making some for yourself.

i know i will be in need of a pair!!

You will need: a piece of flannel, bag of rice (not instant), funnel, sewing machine, and basic sewing supplies.

Cut four 4" x 4" squares.

With right sides together, stitch two squares of flannel together with a 3/8" seam allowance. Make sure to leave a 1-2" gap on one side. Repeat with other two squares.

Turn bags right side out. Using a funnel, fill each bag halfway to three quarters full of rice.

Machine stitch gap closed. Make sure your stitch is tight.

To use, microwave on medium high for 2 minutes. Will stay toasty for around 30 minutes.

inspiration: http://www.ehow.com/how_4557579_make-rice-bag-hand-warmer.html

2011-12-06T19:05:00.000-05:00

happy december sixth!

tomorrow i hope to do a post on making rice-filled hand warmers.

this was one of my advent gifts for jeremiah and they are easy as pie to make.

all you will need is a piece of flannel, a bag of rice and basic sewing supplies.

2011-12-05T15:53:00.000-05:00

happy december fifth!

it's amazing how quickly the days go.

made my first garland using cuttings from around the yard.

our little tree has been up and decorated for a few days now.

jeremiah and i decided to exchange gifts for advent.

he gets a gift on the odd days and i get a gift on the even days.

i think this will be a tradition we definitely keep!

2011-12-03T21:33:00.001-05:00

happy december third!

last night we had our good friends, alex and celena, over for our first official sleepover.

we all decided that adults should be able to have sleepovers too.

so every month or so we hope to make it a tradition of getting together, eating lots of good food, talking, and watching movies and then sleeping all under the same roof.

and last night was the beginning of it all...

and it was lovely!

2011-12-02T14:53:00.000-05:00

happy december second!

winter is closing in and it's easy to forget about the beauty outside.

fall and spring are stunning in their own rights,

but there is something so lovely, so comforting, about the season of winter.

snow is by far one of nature's more amazing sights,

but i love the bare trees and the clear skies and the muted colors of winter.

last night i was reminded of this when i joined jeremiah and wake for their usual after work playtime.

it was dusk and i couldn't help but take a couple of pictures.

they do no justice to the beauty i saw but are a reminder to look out the window or step out on the porch from time to time and appreciate a winter's sky.

2011-12-01T16:45:00.003-05:00

happy first of december...

i hope it's a cold one with lots of warm blankets and a toasty fire!

2011-11-28T10:59:00.000-05:00

stacks of firewood ready for the cold.

kitchen scraps going into the compost bin.

my next post will be about composting for the beginner (which is me).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

back home from thanksgiving.

if i am being honest, i am reluctantly back home.

it is hard for me to leave my family and to watch jeremiah go back to work.

this big house can get very lonely at times.

---------------------------------------------------------

thanksgiving was lovely.

lots of sweets and sweets and sweets and sweets.

this was my first year participating in the making of the thanksgiving meals.

i am great at eating the meals but for some reason have never helped cook them.

for my dad's side, i made a texas sheet cake.

and for my mom's side, i made a pumpkin pie with freshly roasted pumpkin and shortbread crust.

both turned out relatively well considering it was my first time making both recipes.

the other highlight of my holiday was going to see breaking dawn.

yes, breaking dawn of the twilight series.

and, yes, i loved it.

2011-11-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

have you ever observed the light in your home?

how the kitchen is bright and cheery in the morning...

or the family room all the sudden has this beautiful stream of afternoon light moving through it.

i love, love, love sunny rooms.

these are photos of my sunny rooms in this big, old house.

the sun rises right in front of the tall windows in the kitchen so my mornings (which always start in the kitchen) can be quite heavenly at times.

then the sun makes its way to the other side of the house

and I am caught off guard in the late afternoon when my sewing room is cheery and so inviting.

or the books in the living room are all aglow and begging for me to come sit and read a while.

but sometimes the best light is found on the other side of the door.

friday was quite grey and then the sun made an appearance right before it was to set.

i ran outside with my camera and skipped through the yard trying to capture the glorious moment upon me.

the sunlight was breathtaking

as it peeped through the half-empty branches and lit up the golden leaves that still held on.

on another note...

wake went missing yesterday.

and i spent most of the rest of the day crying. and crying.

this morning i woke up depressed and restless.

where in the world was the little animal i was responsible for?

i shed a few more tears and decided i would just sit there until the animal shelter opened and i could call to see if he was there.

and then jeremiah called and said he was okay.

a neighbor down the street had him.

and i cried again.

now wake is sound asleep here in the kitchen with me.

my heart is so thankful that i get another chance to love and take care of this precious (yet very mischievous) puppy.

the cats are still going strong.

homemade journals & notepads.

2011-11-17T15:59:00.002-05:00

jeremiah and i are not the wealthiest people around.

nor are we big shoppers when it comes to things we feel we could make ourselves

(and could keep us from supporting "MADE IN CHINA").

so when Christmas comes around, our crafty (and frugal) genes go to work.

(well were not really frugal. we like to spend money on others and ourselves. we are just poor - in the american sense.)

here is a project that encompasses two things about me:

my love of reusing/repurposing/recycling and my tendency to not throw away things.

with all these lovely characteristics combined, i give you an easy-to-make Christmas gift idea,

homemade journals and notepads.

Start with a collection of cardstock and thin cardboard. I have a hard time throwing away decent cardstock so I had a lot on hand (old cards, invitations, postcards, mailers, etc). I also rummaged through the recycling and pulled out an empty cereal box and cracker box. Try not to use overly thick cardboard.

Gather blank paper. I used some printer paper and then a lot of ruled paper leftover from college. Once again, I have a hard time throwing away anything, especially blank paper.

Using a paper cutter or scissors (for a more precise cut, use a paper cutter), I cut 2 pieces of cardboard and a handful of blank paper to my chosen dimensions. Keep in mind that to bind your booklet you will be running it through a sewing machine so be mindful of how much paper you put in the middle. Play around with all different dimensions. This step can take a while because you want to make sure all your edges line up well which means more precise cutting.

Next, take the front of your journal/notepad and crease the edge where you will join all three pieces together. This will make it easier for the booklet to open. Try using a ruler to make a straight edge. Fold the flap over the ruler and then bend back and forth until a nice crease is made. Do not do this too many times or it could possibly start to tear the cardboard.

Using a size 14 or larger needle, sew all three parts together. If your machine is having a hard time going through all the layers, try taking out some of the paper in the middle. Make sure you backstitch at each end. I used a wide, straight stitch.

Embellish with stamps, fabric, etc. This particular notepad is embellished with a piece of stamped fabric sewn by machine onto the front.

Remember to play around with different dimensions and get creative with the types of covers you use. On the bottom lefthand corner, I repurposed on old photo from jeremiah's high school photography class days.

One of my favorite designs is using old invitations, particularly wedding invites or save the dates. This would make a great gift for a friend especially if it is their wedding invite!

2011-11-15T19:05:00.003-05:00

our trees are dripping with fall foliage.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

listening to kate havnevik .

loveliness.

2011-11-11T15:02:00.000-05:00

my current to-read list:
Rainbow Valley (Anne of Green Gables Series) by L.M. Montgomery
The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Series) by Carolyn Keene
The River Cottage Bread Handbook by Daniel Stevens
Ruth, A Portrait by Patricia Cornwell
Majesty by Robert Lacey
Lick the Sugar Habit by Nancy Appleton

2011-11-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

today is a lovely grey. golden leaves shine even brighter against the cloudy sky. it's the kind of day where you want to sit by a fire, wrapped in a heavy blanket, with a large mug of hot cocoa and fresh bread baking in the oven.

these are some photos i took out in the yard today. my kale seedlings are doing very well. i hope to have at least a small supply of fresh greens throughout the winter.

today i went to library and came across a fascinating little book called The River Cottage Bread Handbook. i think i am going to have lots of fun exploring its pages and hopefully trying out some new bread recipes.

2011-11-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

this weekend was quite lovely.
on saturday we went apple picking with our close friends, alex and celena, at carter mountain orchard in charlottesville. their apple doughnuts are delicious (don't taste much apple but who cares!).
fuji and pink lady were the current picks. we got 12 lbs. worth.
now i just need to decide what to do with my abundance of fujis. the pink ladies make very tasty snacks so no need to cook them.
after hitting up the orchard, we lunched at bodo's bagels in downtown charlottesville. it was delicious!
then we got coffee (my second cup of the day = slight panic/caffeine attack later on) and rode out in the country a little.
out in the VA countryside, celena tooks us to her favorite flower shop and i fell in love!
it was a memorable day!

2011-11-04T16:59:00.000-04:00

going apple picking tomorrow in charlottesville with some good friends!
hopefully i will come back with a stash of apples to make applesauce, apple butter, apple chips & a few leftover to eat with peanut butter. yum!

i finally tried no knead bread from this blog. i have heard a lot about no knead bread recently and have been wanting to make it for a while. it was very easy to make and quite tasty (especially with cinnamon & sugar butter). i substituted the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a more textured & healthier bread.

2011-11-02T12:09:00.002-04:00

in the kitchen, as usual.

the quote on the chalkboard is a summary of wendell berry's larger quote: "Eaters, that is, must understand that eating takes place inescapably in the world, that it is inescapably an agricultural act, and that how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used."

check out this article from wendell berry about eating.

the large squash by selva's head is a cushaw.

jeremiah surprised me with this small (large) gift yesterday.

supposedly it cooks up like any other squash or pumpkin.

i think it will be feeding us for a while.

my staple breakfast is made up of a few, simple ingredients.

old-fashioned oats, local honey, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg (not pictured).

i cook the oats (1/2 cup oats to 1 cup water) on high to medium heat until they are nice and soft.

then i add a spoonful of honey and a little bit of everything else to taste.

yum!

2011-10-31T12:53:00.000-04:00

jeremiah went with a redskins logo for his pumpkin.
i went the more traditional route.
happy halloween!!

2011-10-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

slowly getting our belongings tucked away.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cold air came upon us in the night.

leaves are falling.

crows are sitting in the treetops talking.

winter is starting to call.

time to settle in. to build warmth in our homes for the season ahead.

2011-10-26T11:01:00.002-04:00

doily gift wrap.

starched doily bowls. idea via.

furoshiki gift wrap using a vintage scarf.

vintage pillowcase tote bag. idea via.

gift tags using stamps, vintage buttons & paper doilies.

doily table runner. idea via.

this past weekend i had the privilege of teaching a class at a local church's women's crafting event.
my class was called "a vitnage christmas" and focused on how to reuse doilies, hankies, buttons and other vintage-y items to make gifts and decorations for the holidays.
these are a few of my favorite ideas from the class.

2011-10-23T22:23:00.001-04:00

we live in a small "village" as the locals call it.

our house and land is located on a very large block in the village.

this is the house we share the block with. obviously vacant.

its crammed full of so many antiques.

a few beautiful iron beds and one iron baby crib. lovely moulding and fixtures. glass door knobs. cast iron sinks. and much more, i am sure.

it's sad to see a house wasted. abandoned. vandalized.

it makes you wonder what happened. what went wrong. especially when so many possessions are left behind.

2011-10-19T22:11:00.000-04:00

morning light.

2011-10-15T15:45:00.001-04:00

yesterday, i blanched and froze about 20lbs. of tomatoes. needless to say, i will be happy not to touch a tomato for a while.
i also made a batch of granola bars using ina garten's (the barefoot contessa) recipe. these bars are really hard to resist! next time i may scale down the amount of honey and sub maple syrup for brown sugar.
today has been a fruitfully good day!
i went to the green bay open air market. i was hoping to find a lot of local food and it did not disappoint!!
the woman who heads up the entire market works day and night to supply locals with fresh, pesticide-free produce from around the area (including the Amish community nearby).
today i got: zucchini & squash, eggplant, sweet potatoes, a turnip, green & yellow beans, butternut squash (yum!), gala apples, another type of apple for baking, onions, spinach, red peppers, free range eggs, sourdough bread and molasses. all for about $30!
she also sells different cheeses, butter and milk. all local.
i cannot even begin to tell how elated i am to have such a resource nearby! what a huge blessing and an answer to prayer!
the last picture is a tasty look at my snack today: a fresh (local!) gala apple with organic, crunchy peanut butter.

2011-10-14T12:30:00.003-04:00

the leaves are turning some amazing colors here!
yesterday i visited jeremiah at his new job in farmville.
the ride was so beautiful...rolling hills, pastureland and trees full with fall foliage.
last night i made of batch of granola using this recipe.
i didn't have any dried fruit so all my granola has is oats, sunflowers seeds and coconut but it's still very tasty!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
at the moment, i am reading animal, vegetable, miracle by barbara kingsolver.
it's really making me think twice about how far a lot of my food has traveled and about going without certain foods simply because it took 1500+ miles for them to end up in my pantry/fridge.
whatever happened to eating seasonally and locally?
none of this is new to me but i am finally ready to step up and take responsibility for the food i purchase and the people and practices i support by my purchases.
our current mode of food shopping and eating is not sustainable and i want to do my part to help change that.
luckily, i am surrounded by an abundance of farms, produce stands and farmer's market to aid me in my new quest!

2011-10-12T17:25:00.001-04:00

lots of baking going on around here.
pumpkin bread. "twix" bars. toasted pumpkin seeds.
oddly enough, i am working on overhauling a lot of our diet.
less grains. more nuts & seeds. more fresh veggies & fruits. still vegetarian. more raw food.
today i made ghee (pretty much clarified butter).
i will be using this in place of EVO when i am sauteeing veggies.
learn more at my new roots blog (p.s. this is my new favorite blog).

2011-10-10T20:51:00.000-04:00

our family lost our dear kitty, chico, today.
my heart hurts.
he was one of the sweetest cats around.

2011-10-09T16:13:00.000-04:00

settling in.
loving the arrival of autumn.

jeremiah wanted me to share this one from our move.

this is a good example of the resourceful man i call "husband".

2011-10-07T10:36:00.000-04:00

around here.
potting coleus i rooted back in charlotte.
wake has fully adjusted to life in amelia.
breakfast. kashi blueberry waffles. hot chocolate.

2011-10-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

things are a bit out of sorts here in amelia.

jeremiah and i are taking our time unpacking boxes, setting up rooms and getting things in order.

it still hasn't sunk in that this is our new home.

2011-10-01T19:34:00.001-04:00

my last few minutes in this home.
i look at blank walls.
a bare bedroom.
empty cabinets.
lonely corners.

i cried a lot in this house.
i smiled a lot in this house.
this home was a fulfillment of an old desire.
my first real home with my husband.

charlotte was not an old desire.
but i did grow to call her home.
i warmed to her skyline and familiar streets and neighborhoods.

my life has changed significantly since i called any other place home.
jeremiah and i have only known charlotte.
now we are ready to let her go and explore another place for our family.

goodbye, alexander street.
goodbye, charlotte.

another bend in the road awaits.

2011-09-29T22:01:00.000-04:00

visiting mom and dad before the big move to amelia.
love sleeping in my old bedroom.
the morning light is so lovely.

2011-09-27T21:34:00.000-04:00

coen edward moschler. not even a day old.

the moschler family plus my mom.

mother and child.

aunt ginger helping out her brother and nephew.

meet my new baby cousin (technically first cousin once removed), coen!
we are blessed indeed to have a new little life in our family.

2011-09-26T22:56:00.000-04:00

a visit to the lovely maymont park in richmond.

2011-09-24T21:35:00.000-04:00

life. at the moment.

2011-09-21T13:29:00.001-04:00

jeremiah's handiwork.
custom metal trim and siding for our friend stewart's house.

how to make sweet tea.

2011-09-18T19:20:00.002-04:00

when i married jeremiah, i learned there was a specific way to make sweet tea.

this is how the austins make sweet tea:

1. start with your teapot, seven Lipton tea bags and a cup of sugar (for a special occasion, use more sugar).

2. put the teabags into the teapot (i remove the tags).

3. fill the teapot with two thirds water and bring to a boil.

4. once boiling, pour in the sugar. bring to a boil again. after bringing to a second boil, remove from the eye and let sit for a while.

5. pour tea into a pitcher. refill teapot (with teabags) with cold water and pour into pitcher. repeat until pitcher is full.

2011-09-17T00:11:00.001-04:00

started packing today.
the house already feels so different without familiar books on the shelves and pictures on the wall.
it's odd how material things can make a house feel warm, comfortable and safe.

2011-09-15T22:47:00.000-04:00

today i...
planted kale & swiss chard seeds.
blanched & froze fresh, locally grown roma tomatoes.
made a batch of pizza dough.
made signs for our yard sale this weekend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
menus from this week...
mon: ? don't remember.
tues: whole wheat pasta with pesto & sauteed veggies.
wed: wheatberry salad. mushrooms & broccoli cooked in liquid amino acids (soy sauce substitute). fresh greens with oil & vinegar dressing.
thurs: pizza with mushrooms, pepper, onion & jalapeno. fresh greens with raw corn & oil & vinegar dressing.

2011-09-14T18:45:00.000-04:00

now that things are starting to cool off, jeremiah and i have been spending some evenings out on the porch, talking and talking.
it has been so nice to step away and sit, looking at the moon and enjoying the cool air.

we finally got me a redskins jersey.
a $2.50 purchase at value village.
yes, portis no longer plays for the redskins but at least i am wearing the skins' colors on game day!
(i never thought i would be this girl. but it makes my husband happy. and i can't help but enjoy it too.)

2011-09-13T17:08:00.000-04:00

just put a new tote on etsy.

this is all a big experiment but i am enjoying it!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this particular bag is based on a drawing a friend did for me.

i was given a crane mobile as a gift. my friend drew a picture for me so i would know how it was supposed to look.

i have always loved that drawing and wanted to do something with it.

well, here's what i did with it.

2011-09-12T17:38:00.000-04:00

restitched is now open on etsy.
go here to shop.

2011-09-11T16:43:00.000-04:00

ten years ago today i was a sophomore in high school.
i was sitting in mrs. keck's english class when we found out.
she was so frightened.
we watched images of smoke and debris on the tv.
the rest of the day was a dream.
where were you?

2011-09-09T23:25:00.002-04:00

my second scarf of the season!
i have been wanting a chunky cream/white scarf for fall and winter and now i have one.
jeremiah and i went to michael's the other evening so i could pick out yarn. while i was there, i grabbed a free pattern for a crocheted cowl. i started the project that night and would not let myself stop until i was finished. i am pretty satisfied with the final result.
now i can't wait for my next crochet project. i love having something to work on while i am watching a movie, waiting for an appointment, etc. idle hands drive me crazy!

i found this little debacle in my sewing room/guest room today.

looks like wake took a liking to the wastebasket.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

last night i made my first soup of the season!

i chose to make my mom's tomato potato soup, jeremiah's favorite.

tonight we had pizza again. a standby when i have nothing else to fix.

every few weeks i make a batch of pizza dough, divide it into six servings, and freeze it. when i decide on pizza for dinner, i pull out a serving of dough and let it thaw out throughout the day. then when i am ready to cook, it is wonderfully pliable and easy to roll out. and i love the taste of homemade dough!

2011-09-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

my first scarf of the season! nothing impressive but i do feel encouraged that it is not even technically fall and i already have something crocheted. the scarf is an infinity scarf and is actually a dark purple though the picture makes it look brown.
i've slowly been collecting seeds and have made a few cuttings of coleus, dusty miller and basil to root.
i thought i would start sharing my weekly menus.
mon: portobello mushroom lettuce wraps with homemade sweet potato chips (recipe).
tues: homemade veggie pizza. iceberg wedges with homemade blue cheese dressing (recipe).
tonight: whole wheat spaghetti with pesto and broiled roma tomatoes.

2011-09-05T22:01:00.000-04:00

this weekend:
wedding in south carolina.
lazy days at home.
cats. always cats. doing something.

2011-09-02T21:56:00.000-04:00

puppy love.

2011-08-30T23:41:00.000-04:00

a huge goal of mine began its journey to fulfillment today.
thanks to an amazing husband and his strong arms (and no help from wake), we broke ground for our garden in amelia.
it's a 16x24 ft. plot divided into several beds. we hope to have all the beds dug by tomorrow and then plant a cover crop when we come in september.
with achy arms and destroyed fingernails i go to sleep tonight. but now i get to dream about zinnias, kale, tomatoes, sunflowers, squash, carrots and more growing in my garden in amelia.

2011-08-29T22:16:00.000-04:00

in amelia for a few days.
went for a late afternoon walk yesterday after picking up sticks left by miss irene.
i love this building and the train tracks. i can see the lovely orange-red of the building from the house.
i look forward to this being a regular view for us.

2011-08-28T17:08:00.005-04:00

i came home to this yesterday.

jeremiah, needle in hand, watching roseanne, drinking sweet tea and demolishing brownies.

2011-08-25T23:11:00.001-04:00

another patchwork project began tonight.

this one is for friends of ours who are soon to be husband and wife.

jeremiah came up with the original design and then we worked together to come up with the final design.

i love having a spouse who enjoys making things by hand as much as me.

and he is not even ashamed to get behind a sewing machine. occasionally i'll catch him in my sewing room working on a project or hemming his clothing. he is who he is. and i love it.

2011-08-24T22:07:00.000-04:00

a gift for a new family member due to arrive soon.
to make it a bit more special and unique, i passed on using one solid piece of fabric and patched together small squares of flannel instead.
after i took this picture, i embroidered the initials of the new baby on one of the bunny's ears.
i hope coen will like his gift from cousin meg!

2011-08-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

an evening spent with the austins.
watching roseanne. designing a wedding gift. finishing up pound cake.
not sure what the box cutter is doing in there.

2011-08-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

lazy afternoon.

2011-08-18T23:09:00.001-04:00

these are photos from a lavender farm we visited in the upcountry of maui.
it was by far one of the most beautiful and diverse gardens i have seen.
jeremiah and i mutually agreed that this is where we would live in maui.
below is a lovely video that jeremiah shot of me at the farm.

2011-08-16T17:15:00.002-04:00

working hard to be comfortable in my own skin.
thankful not to be alone in this journey.
blessed to have such a wonderful helpmate and friend.

2011-08-14T17:31:00.004-04:00

this weekend has been good and lazy.
yesterday, i got to enjoy the rain from my front porch.
today, jeremiah and i slept late and then spent the next few hours reading. i have also managed to bake a loaf of bread today. and that is about it.
the animals have loved us being around.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
on my reading list at the moment:
Lucid Food [ lots of insight into eco-conscious eating and cooking habits]
Fresh Every Day [great cookbook from the owner of Foster's Market in chapel hill & durham]

The Garden Primer [i am trying to prepare for a fall/winter garden]
The Four Season Harvest
Sow True Seed Catalog

The Doula Book [i am considering becoming a doula and this book is teaching me a lot about the job]

2011-08-13T15:25:00.001-04:00

cleaned and reorganized our bedroom the other day.
unfortunately, our bedroom is the pigsty of the rest of the house. it's not my intention for it to be such but that it what it has become. i am working on rectifying that situation.
this is my "pretty" corner of the bedroom. i have had thw dresser since college and love it. jeremiah built me my earring holder when we first got married. it's another one of my favorites.

2011-08-09T21:51:00.001-04:00

my husband home from work. all dressed up for his birthday.
i had to capture this moment when i saw him. the picture makes him look oddly short but i think it sums him up pretty well.
his birthday present from me: tickets to see foo fighters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
today i felt autumn coming.
it makes me think of school starting and football games.
i am looking forward to autumn in VA.

2011-08-08T22:55:00.000-04:00

just got back from houston today.
it was a wonderful weekend but i am so happy to be home. and to be home for a while. i am quite done with traveling at the moment.
i was a little nervous about getting settled back at home and at work but everything went quite smoothly today. jeremiah and i had a nice dinner with a friend visiting from out of town and have spent the rest of the evening piddling around with this and that.
i, in particular, have been preparing for miah's birthday. he turns 26 tomorrow. and i am oh so excited about the gift i got him!

2011-08-06T12:58:00.000-04:00

went to the lake this week. most of the family was there.
we had delicious pizza one night. all siblings contributed, even caleb!
now jeremiah and i are in houston for the weekend to celebrate his grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary.
i love travelling but i am thoroughly looking forward to being home for a solid week.

2011-08-03T19:04:00.000-04:00

jeremiah's aunt tara got married while we were in maui.
honestly, i always thought getting married in hawaii to be bit of a cliche. but after attending this wedding and dancing the night away under the palm trees i finally get it! the whole evening was quite magical.

2011-08-02T00:47:00.001-04:00

our first day in maui.
spent the day on front street in lahaina, swimming in the pacific, and experiencing our first luau.
the lei smelled amazing. i hated to watch it wither away.

2011-07-31T22:29:00.000-04:00

back home from maui.
amazing sights.
will be sharing them over the next few days.
now for adjusting to the 6 hour time difference.

2011-07-23T00:07:00.001-04:00

off to hawaii...

2011-07-21T21:12:00.000-04:00

we're busy around the house getting things all in order for hawaii.
i've been working on this dress with a seamstress friend of mine for months. i wanted to get it done for hawaii but when i put it on last night it was a size too big. ugh. it will have to wait until after we get back.
jeremiah is working on his wedding present for our friends zac and sara. i will post his unique present after the wedding.
i stumbled upon three good things today:
http://www.alabamachanin.com/lookbooks/fallwinter-2010.
http://beautyeveryday.com/.
http://www.rwoodstudio.com/.