Boots // Little Stories

There is something quite comforting in wearing three-size-too-big boots.  Bigger steps, exaggerated, take you place to place, and in order to run, you must high-step it, giggling all the way.

I think that it must be because of all the times you wore your father's boots when you were little, that you so cherish it now.  The times when you slipped into the cavernous boots to drag your feet, creating a muddy trail through the snow to the mailbox, the old metal box echoing your hands' request for mail.

I think it must be because it reminds you how to be little again, it reminds you that you aren't all that grown-up, it helps you feel better, since you're already taller than your mother, and the feeling of tucking your head under her chin, just isn't there any more.  It is better to know that you are still little, that your feet can still jostle around in too-big boots, even if you can reach things your mother cannot.

So I'm glad you have these boots, because I like to see you laugh, stomping through the snow, shuffling around, and giggling.  I think that it is good for you.  And I hope you have a nice day.

Faerie Queen // Prose

I am a child of the oak and maple forests of the east, of rich trees and secret rivers, rushing, cold.  Will you hike up-current with me?  Galoshes mean dry knees. A plastic baggie holds a sandwich, a thermos, my tea.    We will find the hidden island, obscured by the weeds, there is moss to sit upon, and we can climb the trees?  A sketchbook holds my memories, a pencil is in my hand, I can remember this for always (but hold still please).  Take this bit of string, we can fish for our lunch, I haven't ever caught anything, don't worry too much (I have turkey and cheese).  Come quick, be quiet, you don't want them to find us!  I'll be on lookout, and make our flower crowns, you can set the table, and warm up the tea.  Isn't it nice?  This is my land, and I am the faerie-queen.

Those Resolutions // Personal

I really like good food.  I also really love making good food.  I would spend all day cooking and eating if I had the choice.  I'd plan meals and go grocery shopping, cook it up, take pictures (look at all those yummy colors!) and eat it, all day long.
This is a pizza of sorts I suppose, and here's how you can make it.

Ingredients:
butternut squash, sauteed in butter and olive oil, lightly salted and peppered(more than you'd normally put on "pizza" is really good)
any dark greens (arugula, spinach, mixed greens)
red onions, sauteed
havarti (or other yummy cheese)
if you want to season it more than s + p, I'd suggest sage.
pizza dough (or frozen dinner roll dough if you're lazy like me)(but hey, use what you have)

place it all in a pan.  bake it.  take pictures of it.  take pictures of your adorable kitten.  eat it.

Procrastination in form of an Outfit

 

 

I was busy *studying* for exams on this beautiful sunny Saturday, and decided to get dressed up.  But then I wanted to take pictures.  And edit them.  And put them up.  Moral of the story: don't save your exams until the weekend.  Thank you and goodbye.

Deep Calls to Deep // Personal

spending some time in the word.  sticky notes on pages.  reminders of how great He is. 

Mondays are for Music

listening here. 

Sunday morning Scones

making scones.  gooey dough.  the sound of a fork whisking an egg.  golden-baked edges.  humming songs.  fresh cream.  new berries from my favorite place.  jam.  light.  taking pictures instead of curling my hairs.  rushing out the door for church.

good afternoon & have a happy sunday.

A sequined skirt for the new year

A sparkly skirt for the New Year.  On New Years we all piled in the van and drove to Denver for a day of Van Gogh at the Denver Art Museum.  It was a wonderful exhibit, portraying his entire life and the way he grew through his career.  If you're not familiar with the dutch post-impressionist painter, you must become so.  His raw emotional works are intense and beautifully done.  It was incredible to see his ten year journey as an artist before his untimely death by what was probably an accidental shooting while he was out in a field near his home.  His ten years of works at the show that we were able to see showed his journey so well.  We saw his beginning in black and white inks and charcoal, with rough workmanship portraying rough, raw life, through his exploration of japanese-style painting and the introduction of color into his works.  There were stories behind his paintings, and emotion, and real life, and I really enjoyed seeing the product of the life of this now-famous painter.

After the museum, we were all starving and drove around looking for food, but I saw the beautiful light and made everyone climb out for some family photos (coming later) and an outfit picture.  Then we ate greek food.

Happy Friday!

LISTENING and LAUGHING 

lillian rachel

Easy Midnight Fudge

At midnight, if one desires chocolate, and your movie won't load on netflix, and you have two siblings to help you and maybe a kitten, and you like fudge then I suggest you make this.  It's quite easy, but it won't be ready until the end of your movie, so you do have to be a little patient.  

EASY MIDNIGHT FUDGE

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 package (or several different half-way snacked upon) semisweet chocolate chips
1 OZ unsweetened chocolate (optional)

1 teaspoon instant espresso (optional)

1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanillla extract

Open your can of sweetened condensed milk and pour it into a saucepan, and heat it up with your chocolate chips.  Once mostly melted, take off heat and continue to stir until it is all soft and chocolate-y.  Add in the vanilla, and the instant espresso/nuts if you want.  Pour/scrape into a 9x9 inch well PAM-ed pan.  Refridgerate until firm.  It might be almost ready by the end of you movie, at least firm enough to thouroughly test it.  But by morning, it'll be a delicious smooth pan of chocolate.  Don't eat it all at once.  ;)

I thought of maybe doing a New Year post, but I don't think I really will.  Maybe halfway through January, or late at night this week, I'm not sure.  But I hope you're all enjoying break, and have renewed joy for this year ahead of us.  

lillian rachel