Autumn in Nature

Fall, leaves, fall; die,
flowers, away;
Lengthen night and
shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths
of snow
Blossom where the rose
should grow;
I shall sing when
night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Emily Bronte

More Projects Completed

Coffee cuff...

P.J. top for little Jonah

Mom's old ugly sewing table....

Newly painted just the way I want it!

Monday Menus

Monday: Baked Mac & Cheese for kids, Mexican salad for me

Tuesday: Cabbage Soup

Wednesday: Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas

Thursday: left-overs

Friday: homemade pizza/calzone night

Saturday: small plates & soup for halloween

Sunday: Farmer's Vegetable Casserole

Shut Up and Sing

I have to admit I am not one for country music. I have listened to it in the past (forced mostly by my mom) and I did go through a short phase where I listened to it voluntarily, but it has been at least 15 years since I have sat down and listened to "country music." It is one of the two types of music that has never really done anything for me; the other being heavy metal. So when Natalie Maines, the front-womun for The Dixie Chicks, made a basic anti-war statement the night their 2003 tour opened in London, I had no idea what she said or the repercussions of her statements that these three womyn have dealt with almost continuously since that night. It wasn't until a good friend recently gave me a copy of their documentary, Shut Up and Sing, that I was aware of what was said, what has happened because of what was said, and how bad-ass these womyn truly are!



This documentary follows these womyn from the opening of their "Top of the World" tour (2003) through five years of backlashes, boycotts, death threats, pregnancies and the writing and production of a new album. It shows the strength and convictions and sisterhood that these womyn possess. It also shows how many people in this county say they believe in free speech and yet what they really mean is that they believe in free speech if what you are saying is something that they agree with and support. It baffles me that all of the controversy was over what Natalie Maines had said after singing their hit Traveling Soldier (in reference to the war) was: "And we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."

REALLY?

THIS comment is un-American and un-patriotic?

Exercising their right to the 1st Amendment isn't American?

Why is it that Rush Limbaugh or other right-wing conservatives who spew messages of hate on a daily basis aren't held to the same standards?

When is the last time the radio stations which air these despicable people (such as Rush Limbaugh) have been boycotted?

And why is it that when a young womun stands up and exercises her right to the 1st Amendment she is a loud-mouth, pushy, liberal bitch that needs to be silenced?

Just some questions that have been going through my mind.


If you haven't seen this documentary I highly recommend it. And if you are anything like me, you will want to go out and buy all of their albums and 10 copies of this DVD to give to your friends and to show these fine ladies your support.

Here is a video of The Dixie Chicks singing their song, Not Ready to Make Nice, which I think is pretty kick-ass!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHH8bfPhusM&feature=related

Monday Menus

Monday: Chickpea & Spinach Curry w/ Brown Rice and side of roasted broccoli & brussel sprouts

Tuesday: Taco night ( at request of the kids :) )

Wednesday: Potato Leek Soup, Salad & almost fat-free corn bread

Thursday: Homemade Pizza/Calzone Night

Friday: Italian Bean & Squash Soup

Saturday: Sweet Potato, Carmalized Onion and Butternut Squash Lasagne, Salad w/fruit & nuts

Sunday: Left-overs

Monday Menus

Lately I have been trying to set weekly menus and I haven't had a lot of success with it. As a result my grocery bills haven't been the best and so I need to make this a priority. So I decided that I would start posting my weekly menu on the blog to help keep me on track. So every Monday I will do a post titled "Monday Menus" and occasionally I will add recipes for some of our favorite delicious and fast vegetarian meals.


MONDAY: Indian-curry Sweet Potato Soup (recipe below), Arugula w/fruits, nuts & goat cheese and fresh bread

TUESDAY: Veggie Taco Bar Night

WEDNESDAY: Whole Wheat Pasta w/ Green Sauce, Roasted Beets, Carrots& Red Onions in Fennel Pollen & fresh bread

THURSDAY: Left-over soup & pasta

FRIDAY: Carry-out Arabic food

SATURDAY: Veggie Minestrone, Salad & Fresh Bread

SUNDAY: leftover soup, Salad & Fresh Bread

Indian Curry Sweet Potato Soup:

* Ready in 25-30 minutes

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small yellow onion chopped
1 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 Tbsp. Madras Curry Powder
2 1/2-3 cups of veggie broth
1 can of light coconut milk
3 cups of shredded spinach or kale

In large pot heat oil & then saute onions, potatoes, and garlic until onion is just tender. Add spices and stir continuously for another minute. Add 2 cups of the broth & bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer covered for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.

Add coconut milk & stir to mix well. Pour into a food processor or use emulsion blender to blend until smooth. Add the additional broth until you get it the consistency that you want it. Then add the spinach/kale & cook until the greens are wilted. Season with salt & pepper, serve hot.

* The original recipe is a little different. It also called for a can of chickpeas to add in with the spinach & I did so and my whole family thought the texture combination was horrible so I ended up straining out the chickpeas and making them into a dip for crackers.

A lot of randomness

I have to be honest and say when I sit down to start a blog I can never quite get into it these days. Maybe because I have so many other things pulling me in different directions. I have started a few entries that I do plan to finish, but right now sitting down to the computer to write just does not do it for me. If I am going to be on the computer I'd rather be doing brainless activities such as bouncing through fabric sights and sewing blogs; drooling over what future projects await.

But as for right now I have produce that I must can, freeze, dry and cure for the winter. I have been sewing and trying to learn some basic embroidery stitches to get ready for Christmas. I have been doing a lot of baking as well; I think it is the cold weather that has prompted the need for comfort foods and carbs. AND....I have started my graduate school application in hopes of starting school next fall. Yes, much is going on right now and I am trying to soak it all in. I know that if I am in school this time next year a lot of this other stuff will be put on hold for a couple of years. And did I mention I have two kids to take care of, chase around and help with homework?

Projects completed!

Here are the set of pajamas that I FINALLY finished! I finished this set last week as well as the top of another set I started back in the summer and seemed to never get around to finishing (sorry Rebecca- I hope they still fit!) I am not sure why, but I seemed to have issues every time I sat down to a project. First it was not measuring enough fabric and so then I had to go back to the store I purchased it to find out that they were completely out and not getting anymore in. So, the search online began to find this flower fabric or one that was complementary. I also had some issues with my bobbin winder that delayed these projects that sent me to friendly neighbor's machines to do some bobin winding. Then I ran out of thread and well, let's just say there was a lot of life happening in the midst of all of this as well.

But I am very happy that both projects are done and now I can FINALLY move on to start Christmas gifts and goodies! By the way for those of you who are interested the fabric for this set is by Erin McMorris; part of her Park Slope collection.

And more tomatoes....

Oven-Roasting to store for winter....

This is how my table is at this exact moment due to the fact that there was a frost warning for last night.