Thanksgiving Blessing & Dressing

Thanksgiving is so rich in tradition; I love it! My husband and I have hiked "over the mountain and through the woods" from our house to my parents home at the beach (about four miles) for the last 10 years. It is such a refreshing way to arrive; a little tired, super hungry and ready to enjoy the company of family and friends. Giving thanks for the simple and complex things and moments present in our lives right now. We are blessed to have each other, our animals, our friends and families and our health.

By no means am I a food stylist (as will be apparent below) or a food blogger (also apparent below), but I do love great food! And every once in a while I make something that's pretty fantastic. I am lucky enough to have a husband that cooks 90% of our meals...Yes, I'm spoiled! I do however, have a few favorite recipes that I love to cook for special occasions, whether that's a casual Sunday dinner with my sweetie, a potluck dinner party with friends or Thanksgiving dinner with family. Here's one of my all time faves and a tradition for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/2-1 yellow onion (This year I only used 1/2 an onion, because we had it in the fridge from the dinner the night before)
• 1 bin (about 8-12) mushrooms (I used small crimini mushrooms, but any would be fabulous!)
• 1 bunch of celery
• 1-2 apples ( I used one from the neighbors branch that reaches into our yard & a fuji apple)
• 1-4 Tbsp herbs (this year I used sage & oregano from the garden)
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 box breadcrumbs (the past few years I've used the cornmeal version from TJ's, but any will do)
• 1 box (or 4 cups) Veggie Broth
• 1/2-1 stick salted butter
• 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 (or more) glass(es) of Chardonnay (I'm usually a Sauvignon Blanc gal, but this calls for a little fuller wine) or a nice Pinot Noir

Directions:

1. Pour yourself a glass of wine.
2. Dice the onion & set aside.
3. Clean the mushrooms with a wet paper towel or cloth. Slice mushrooms & rough cut them into small chunks.  Set aside.
4. Dice the entire bunch of celery & apples into rough chunks. Set aside.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
6. Place veggie broth in a saucepan on medium to low to warm.
7. Place 1/2 stick (4 Tbsp) of butter in a large stock pot on medium to high heat. Add olive oil, so butter doesn't burn.
8. Add onions & stir until soft.
9. Chop herbs & set aside.
10. Add mushrooms to stockpot with onions & stir until gently sautéed.
11. Grease a baking dish on the bottom & sides. Set aside.
12. Next, stir in celery & apples & saute until slightly soft. Keep lid on so the moisture is retained. Crack pepper into mixture.
13. Turn heat off & add breadcrumbs. Add herbs & fold mixture into breadcrumbs so vegetables are evenly dispersed.
14. Slowly add the veggie broth into the mixture & again gently fold mixture until the breadcrumbs are saturated, but not smashed.
15. Add salt & pepper to taste.
16. Scoop the mixture into your greased baking dish & cover with foil.
17. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil & bake another 5 minutes to create a slightly crispy top layer.
18. Remove, serve & enjoy.

This recipe can be modified in so many ways:

• I've used pear in place of the apple before
• Some people might like cranberries
• You could definitely use stale bread instead of the lazy boxed version
• Homemade broth would definitely be a nice touch
• You could add garlic

Let me know your favorite dressing (or stuffing) recipes.

Midweek Inspiration...gratitude

This says it all...

This year I am grateful for:

my husband & best friend

my MBA in Sustainable Enterprise

being frugal

running a half marathon

my parents

my animals; Buckaroo, Sammy & Fritzie-girl

who came with the house we bought last year

the sunshine & the rain

my boss, mentor & friend

being able to create a home of our own

my health

What are you thankful for this year?

Monday Mood Board #3 - Industrial Farmhouse Chic: kitchen

A bit of our inspiration:

We are struggling with our small kitchen...
I've had dreams of a big open kitchen / dining room 
with an island & a huge farm table.
The perfect spot to gather
with friends & family to share a meal & laughter.

We just don't have the layout to create
the specific vision that's been living in my head for years,
but even with our limited floor plan
we look forward to creating our super welcoming
Industrial Farmhouse kitchen.

Here's our basic hit list to create this cool, but welcome space:

• professional-style appliances
• barn lighting
• metal accessories
• weathered wood
• open shelving
• white bead-board walls
• & a subtle pop of color.

Midweek Inspiration...to do's

There are the little to do's that we all put off ~

making a doctor's appointment

cleaning the fridge

updating your linked in page

balancing the check book

ironing that pile of clothes

talking to the tax guy

And then there's that other list...

traveling through Europe

going back to school

opening a home furnishing's & accessories shop

learning how to weld

starting a family in a new town

buying a house

I've ticked off 2 of the five on my list...What's on your list?

Midweek Inspiration...Perfect Moment

We must always reflect on what we have in front of us

and be grateful for the moment.  Beauty surrounds us in the most unexpected places.

It's time to take that next step...make it perfect!

Midweek Inspiration...without

We've been so busy the last few months

that I've been neglecting my blog,

but we all still need a little inspiration

to get through the week.

Keep it simple & pure...

Barn Light Electric Giveaway

Barn Light Electric is having an AMAZING giveaway! 

The Winner gets a $1000 Barn Light Electric gift certificate! 

Wow!!  The possibilities are almost endless...front porch light, kitchen pendant lights, bathroom sconces, and the list goes on...

And even if you don't snag first prize, second and third are pretty awesome, too!

2nd place - $500 gift certificate

3rd place - $250 gift certificate

Enter in three easy steps:

1. Take a look around Barn Light Electric's incredible website, and pick out a few of your favorite things that you would love to have adorning your own abode. (pretty easy, right?)
2. Then feature your choices on your personal blog.
3. At the bottom of the post, include directions for entering so your followers can enter, too.

(you can just copy and past the instructions below to make it easier!)

So here's my wish list:

These galvanized metal sconces would be perfect beside all of the exterior doors (front, mudroom, garage, dining room and for the cottage entrance.)

And in the kitchen, three of these would be perfect over the big farm table.

And then to finish the look, two of these sconces would be amazing in the bathroom above the pedestal sink.

Obviously I have a galvanized metal theme going on here at

The Farmhouse. I think these would all stand out perfectly against the white backdrop and would highlight all of

the rustic elements throughout.

Fingers crossed!

How to Enter:

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article so others can enter
4. Once your personal article is up, you must email your blog link to:marketing@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends Monday, July 2nd, 2012
5. Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by reading the Official Rules

Midweek Inspiration...beautiful places

this is always the approach taken...so much more rewarding!

via Pinterest

Midweek Inspiration...summer

"the cure for anything is salt water.

sweat, tears or the ocean."

so true.

Happy first day of summer!

via Society 6

Midweek Inspiration...finding strength

I need to remember to be patient and appreciate
all of the little moments each day that bring me joy.
Be grateful for the small things that have been accomplished and build from them. Find comfort knowing that it is all of these minute steps that make up the big picture and create the whole.

Image by Kim Klassen Cafe quote from Mother Teresa

Weekend Visitors

My parents came up for their first visit to The Farmhouse this past weekend. It couldn't have been more perfect.


We both ended up working late on Friday (instead of getting home early, we ended up getting home around dark) and therefor decided to leave early in the morning to head up to The Farmhouse instead of arriving on Friday evening like we planned. We made a stop at Home Depot and picked up some materials and a gorgeous new grill.


It was the first weekend that my husband and I were able to relax and enjoy all the work that we've done over the last six months since we bought the house...


We reflected on all that we had accomplished so far:

• carpet: ripped it out in the living room, kitchen (I know disgusting; right!?!), hall and master bedroom
• linoleum: tore it up in the kitchen and hallway (that was under the carpet)
• paint: the living room walls, trim and ceiling, master bedroom walls (primed), ceiling and temporary floor and the kitchen cabinets
• interior walls: tore down the wall opening the breezeway up into a single open space
• grounds: cleared dirt, debris, pine needles and ivy away from the house
• trees: limbed trees surrounding the house
• fencing: removed barbed wire fencing along driveway (which will become amazing rusty barbed wire wreaths once I get a little extra time to finish side projects)
• and cleaned 20 years of dirt, grime, cobwebs, grease and who knows what else...

My parents arrived about a half hour after we did, so we put away everything we brought up and then gave them the extended tour with the commentary on all of the projects we have planned:

• front porch: replacing old red "hand-hewn" posts with white 6"x6" posts ~ we'll re-use the posts on the guest cottage
• siding: replacing existing red wood siding with white Hardy Boards (fire resistant, rot resistant and eco because it's not using trees) ~ we'll re-use the siding on the guest cottage
• fireplace: tear down the manufactured "stone" chimney, remove the interior petrified wood fireplace surround and the mantle (an old wood plank ~8' long, 18" wide and almost 6" in depth) ~ we're excited to create a cool bench, bar or something else amazing
• entry from kitchen to living room: replace the door with a 6' wide opening, creating a connection between the living room and kitchen
• kitchen: push the wall out 24" into the breezeway, open up the pantry, replace the windows, add french doors to the back deck (that doesn't exist yet), remove the rest of the linoleum and replace the floors (not sure what it will be yet), replace lighting and all appliances
• entry from kitchen to breezeway: replace the door with a rustic barn door on galvanized steel casters
• breezeway: move entry door, replace windows, remove back door, create an open space including a mudroom with sink, bench and coat hooks, a pantry with shelves for extra food items, linens, platters, pitchers, vases, etc., a laundry room and office
• upstairs bathroom: replace the old tub with a huge shower with subway tiles and glass below the existing skylight, remove the sweet pink floral wallpaper, rip out the linoleum and tile the floor and replace the pink vanity with a pedestal sink
• guest bedroom: rip out carpet, paint the walls, either paint the subfloor or figure out some eco alternative ~ eventually we'll turn it into my craft room once we get the downstairs guest bedroom completed and the guest cottage finished
• master bedroom: replace the windows, remove the door to the bathroom, build a closet (standard or walk-in is the question)
• downstairs bedroom: paint the walls and ceiling, install the laminate flooring (my brother gave to us was extra from his beach house remodel)
• downstairs bathroom: mostly gut and start fresh
• roof: replace with a corrugated tin roof (eventually)
• outside: create a guest cottage from the outbuilding, build a back deck, build patios in the front and back, clear some trees, create a meadow area, build a greenhouse and garden, move the existing fort from the front yard to the woods in the backyard, build a fence along the lane and extend the driveway to make a big loop and connect with the side lane
• and the project list goes on...

kabobs & corn on the new grill

We had an amazing dinner, grilled on the new bbq, a game of scrabble and maybe a bit too many drinks - beer, wine, sangria and margaritas. We started the next day with coffee at the house, a late breakfast at our favorite restaurant South Pine and then a drive to 

the gorgeous Yuba River

Washington for our first dip in the Yuba River this year and then a beer at the Washington Hotel. Once we made it back to the house we popped the bottle of champagne my mom brought up and toasted with some cheese and bread. We sent my parents on their way and relaxed the rest of the weekend, waking to an unusually rainy day. A perfect day to spend cuddling in our new Keetsa Cal King bed (eco mattress purchased on Craigslist brand new in the box at half price!).


And on our way back Monday night we found a a bunch of corrugated metal panels on a neighbors junk pile. Of course we had to throw them in the back of the truck. So many possibilities ~ garden fencing, a frame for artwork, roofing for a small shed, interior or exterior siding, the front of a counter or outdoor bar, the back of a cabinet or...


Another perfect weekend at The Farmhouse!

Monday Mood Board #2 - Wedding Inspiration

Midweek Inspiration...simplicity

The epitome of summer in all ways...keep it simple.

 via http://www.divasanddreamsblog.com/

Midweek Inspiration...gratitude

There is so much to be grateful for...

the sunshine

my husband

Sammy girl - we call her a Healador

(she's a mix of Blue Healer & Black Labrador)

graduating

our bad ass kitty Buckaroo

our artichoke plants that we inherited & that just continue

to provide amazing meals

Pinterest

my fabulous job & wonderful boss

The Farmhouse

What are you grateful for?

Midweek Inspiration...believe!

Yes!  I did!!!

I just graduated with an MBA in Sustainable Business from Dominican University of California.  It was just over 3 years ago that I decided to go back to school to make a difference in my life & the world around me.  I am passionate about the environment & look forward to creating a community that believes we can make a difference.  The first step is always the most difficult, but once you start it's just

one step at a time.

Do you believe?