Apples!

Sit back, and prepare to be transported back...to a wonderful time...a time when life was simple...to late September of 2011.

 Confession...I wrote this post right after we picked the apples. And promptly decided to not download any pictures for...four months! Anyway, rather than re-boot this next fall, and since the weather here is pretty much fall-like instead of winter-white, I thought I'd share it today.

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Just in time, I think, we managed to get the majority of  the apples off the tree.

On Wednesday night, our mothers came over, we grabbed a couple of ladders, some boxes, and got to work, with the anticipation of Chinese take away food to greet us when we were done.

It only took about an hour for three women, one man, and two children to get as many apples as could be reached and that were actually ready to say goodbye to their home. A goodly portion of that time, it was really one man working, while three women stood around talking about buying underwear, and two children chased each other around the yard.

But it was fun. And look at that bounty! And they're real McIntosh apples, not the transparents (or is it translucents?) that a lot of people in the prairies have. Good, tart, firm Macs. Not like the soft, flavourless ones that come from so far away to the grocery store. These will be great for all sorts of baked goods, but they're also just perfect for eating out of hand.

2 bins like this!

I call this one 'Brave Man on Tall Ladder'

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We now have five apple pies, some apple sauce, and dozens of bags of cut-up apples in the freezer. Now that Christmas season is over, it's time to start with the apple desserts again.

I love our apple tree. Next autumn will not come fast enough for me.

Friday Food - Warm Lentil Salad

Excuse the quality of the above photo. I'm still a novice when it comes to taking pictures with my phone. I was at work, and this was my lunch.

When I need some cozy comfort food I quite often turn to lentils. Lentil soup is a favourite. But sometimes I don't want to make a big batch of soup. Sometimes I just want something I can whip up in the evening to have at work the next day.

French green lentils are my favourite. I discovered them about 5 or 6 years ago. At the time the only place I could find them was in bulk at the organic food store miles away, or in tiny little bags at the high-end grocers even further away. Then the distributor my food co-op uses started carrying them. Now I am the proud owner of a 10-pound bag of Lentils du Puy.

Here's one of my favourite warm salad recipes with lentils. Easy peasy, filling, comforting, and make-ahead friendly.

Warm Lentil Salad (makes 4 filling side servings)

1 cup French green lentils
1 1/2 cups water
bouquet garni (I like thyme and bay leaf for this)
balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil
nut oil of your choice
toasted nuts of your choice (preferably the same as the nut oil)
salt and pepper to taste
chevre
Put lentils, water, and bouquet garni into a pot and set over high heat. Once it's come to a boil, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are al dente. Drain any remaining water and remove the bouquet.

Drizzle with vinegar and oils to taste, and toss with toasted nuts. Season to taste. Before eating, crumble with feta or chevre. Enjoy!

Like I said above, this is a great make-ahead for lunches (and cheap!). I just pack it up, and bring it to work. Warm it in the microwave and crumble the cheese on top.

This is a fantastic recipe for experimenting. Different nuts, different oils, different cheeses or herbs, you could even add a quarter onion or garlic to the pot will the lentils are simmering. So many different combinations for that background essence. My favourite right now is walnuts and chevre. Play around and come up with your own favourite.

Falling Water

My mother-in-law's Christmas present. I finished knitting this ages ago (in, like, September?), but didn't get around to blocking or finishing it until just before Christmas. Then I realized we were actually going to be seeing them on the 23rd, instead of the 24th like we normally would, and in a sudden panic, I had it soaked, measured, and pinned before going to bed on Thursday. Then I raced home from work on Friday to weave in the ends.

Pattern: Falling Water by Bonnie Sennot. Yarn: Estelle Cadenza

Anyway, she likes it. And I'm glad. I've never been able to get a sense of what she likes in clothing and accessories.

It's such a pretty blue, I kept a skein for myself.

Frustration

I spent 30 minutes yesterday in frustration, attempting to upload a picture from my home computer (iMac) onto blogger, and on to Ravelry. They don't seem to want to talk to each other anymore.

I just did a test on my work computer, and it worked fine.

Grrrrr...computers!

Welcome 2012

Looking back, I feel much better about 2011 than I did about 2010. Which is a good thing. It's funny though, because 2010 wasn't that bad. I think I just felt out of sorts for a good portion of that year. Out of control and constantly playing catch-up.

The past 12 months brought us some change, but mostly it was about us growing together as a family. For Hubs and I, something about our new house somehow makes us feel all grown-up now. For the boys, it seems that one extra year has brought a new level of maturity. Speaking and listening to each other is easier. Understanding comes sooner.

Christmas was wonderful this year. All the knitting was done in time, cookies were made, and while cards didn't get sent out, notes are starting to be written in reply to the ones that were received.

January brings getting our financial house back in order, which was neglected during December. The Freedom List will also be resurrected, after being forgotten in the move to the new house. The new family calendar has been chosen and sits by the kitchen phone, ready to keep our schedules at bay.

I've never been one to focus on resolutions (and apparently I'm not the only one, I've read that a lot today). However, Hubs and I did agree that our family is in need of one evening a week for things like board games and puzzles. And, after struggling back into my work clothes this morning, a focus on my physical health is definitely in order. Oh, and finish Hubs' sweater. Finally.

With all this, I'm looking forward to 2012. Not in the way I looked forward to 2011, gleefully waving at 2010 in the rearview mirror. Instead, I look back at 2011 with satisfaction and love, and welcome 2012 quietly with open arms.

Almost Forgot My Password...

So, to continue to keep my head above water, I've just come to realize that there are certain months of the year when blogging is low on my list of priorities. I now know that October and November are in that group. I have one client in particular who demands a lot of attention during those two months, and unless I quit my job, there's just not much I can do about it. But, it's all good. they're a great bunch of guys (and lady), and I would hate to pass them over to another manager.

And so, I have looked up from my computer and seen that winter has arrived. I seem to be further ahead this year though, for the jolly season, as the first of our trees is up (there will be two this year), the lights are hung around the house, and the knitted presents are almost done.

I'm excited about Christmas this year. It's been a couple of years since I've been this excited.

We have a wood burning fireplace in our family room. We bought a lot of wood this fall. I don't think we bought enough. We're still in the passion stage with the fireplace. Almost every night we start a fire right after supper and keep it going until just before bed. I don't know how long it will take to settle into that comfortable long-term relationship sort of love.

My vision for Christmas morning? Gathering around the lit fireplace, the stockings full, the presents under the small tree that will be decorated with all the boys' ornaments, Christmas music on the iTunes. Us in our pyjamas (new ones for the boys, of course), enjoying our small family before heading over to the parents' home. If I could wrestle The Beast into a pair of antlers, I would.

From a totally self absorbed, consumerist point of view, I am excited about this Christmas for one reason: due to the layout of our house, I now have my 'designer-Christmas' area in the living room and dining room, where everything coordinates, and sparkles. I also have the 'fun-Christmas' area in the family room and kitchen, where the decorations are less matchy, and more about heart and memories.

Shallow? Oh well.

Sundays are for Quotes

"Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form." Andre Maurois