Black and White Sunday....

"praying for our freedom"

comfortable and delicious...in Italian of course!!

An honor to be chosen from Fifi O'Neill's new cookbook for an Italian publication....

From the Italian magazine "COUNTRY & COUNTRY"...

Conforto per corpo e anima

it reads "Comfort for body and soul..."

3 out of the 6 photos are of me and Na-Da Farm....all I can say is thank you!!!

there I am drizzling locally raised lamb shanks with olive oil and my rosemary from the garden

above me are my kids and a few friends playing on the ancient oak tree swing on the south side of our grounds

and the farm to table style dinner in the bottom photograph, taken by Mark Lohman, under the pergola and table strewn with fresh food I made for our large party of friends, including Fifi herself at the head of the table....it was her birthday, and though I wanted to make her, her favorite dessert, bread pudding, my oven stopped working and so became another favorite, rhubarb compote with bourbon dressing served with slow churned vanilla ice cream

The recipes in the book are so very delicious, as Marylout Tapp and Jennifer Rizzo (bottom right photo above) will agree.

The settings are inspirational and the recipes fresh and delicious.

No wonder it is in Italian!!

My recipes for the farm to table dinner are all in the book, pictures of our farm and me preparing it as well...

a wonderful book

such a complete blessing to be a part of that!!

saying it in Italian is so much more beautiful...

Conforto per corpo e anima!!

(almost as beautiful as Latin)

xo+delicious blessings,

all i can think of...

is how to simplify

how to give more to my family in the garden and less from the store and even farmer's market

how to make a wood fired pizza oven and start cooking by fire more

how to congeal my thoughts into something substantial for you....


how to simplify

being happy with who I am = simplifying
staying home and making do = simplifying
not being swayed by what the world find to be valuable = simplifying
not worrying about the future = simplifying
eating out of my garden = simplifying

many people who I talk to about simplifying their lives start with something organic, like eating or supporting local farmer's markets

truthfully, the only way we, as individuals, can live simply is an individual decision.....find out what is clouding your mind....

is it from the television? the computer? the shopping at "big box" stores?? 

Television is a waste of time for us..........kids included

when looking out the window the other day, I noticed my oldest son walking around the grounds......alone......

not discontent or melancholy, but rather, just walking...........he is a big thinker
(I have no idea where he gets that....)

so I asked him what he'd like to do this week, now that we are done with studies......a bike ride.....camping....bowling.....

I was all ears and rather eager to grab my keys and his water bottle and take him wherever he wanted to go....


'Mama...that all sounds like fun....but I like it here.....(insert brother's name here) and I are planning on making a movie today in the woods....'


okay I thought....he'll change his mind....now that I planted this seed of inspiration and fun thoughts, he'll want me to take him later

nope


not one word


all i can think of is how to simplify

my thoughts

my life

me

xo+simple blessings,

you can do it...

we first stand with our feet firmly planted

we master that....get good at just standing.....firm.....strong.....confident.......

we get comfortable with just standing and know others will help us when we fall

or encourage us to get back up

then

all of a sudden

we take that first step..... 

it surprises even us

balancing the rest of our self to just keep moving

focused

a bit shaky, the excitement and encouragement from others helps us move

no matter where we are, there is always Someone who is helping us

even if we can't see Him, and no one else is there helping us get up

He shines His love upon each and everyone one of us and encourages us just with that light....to keep going....don't give up now....keep focused....love the steps along the way.....enjoy the scenery amongst us.....keep strong....do not for any reason give up

being there to for someone else

letting them know you understand

you've been there

we have all been there

none of us knows what it is like to exactly be that other person, but all of us know the struggles of life in our own unique ways and how we can do it

do it together through love and understanding patience and strength

our little Daniel now walks on his own

a very very emotional time for his mama....

the safety within my arms is now reaching out to him

it was him reaching out to me

i now follow him and watch him and shine my light for his path in life as he walks on his own

the rest of my living days and then thereafter

xo + blessings,

family...

this experience during the sale would not be meaningful at all if it wasn't for friends and family supporting and encouraging me



photo taken by Traci Thorson



there is so much work that goes into bringing so many people together

and feeling of selfishness crept in last night....

thinking like I made demands on my husband do this and that...

& the kids eat frozen pizza and cereal

 (we don't get those items usually, and truth be told - they loved every bite :)

Jason last night said something so very special after I told him my thoughts...

"you didn't make me do anything...this is something we do together...because we like doing it"

then he goes on to say:

"you have had six of our children...9months of them growing in your womb and nearly two years of nursing them...that is over 12 years you have given to us...it's time to give back to you"

it was like God was telling me this

and I cannot express my gratitude and humility

it really is quite the experience putting all of this together....but such a pleasure

having you all here, and enjoying yourselves, and sharing your experiences with me

thank you

before another moment goes on, I do have to give a special shout out to some very dear people...

thank you so so very much!!!

so much

may God bless you all who were a part of this event

you all made it very special

xo,