cravings...

no, that is not a pizza, it is a peanut butter and jam toast, my breakfast craving (although i prefer it on a bagel)... my biggest craving is fruit!  yup, these days i want fruit fruit fruit!  i just can't get enough, it doesn't matter what form it comes in, as long as it contains lots of fruit!... i also love pizza, but that is not unusual... and i am finding that my nausea is almost completely gone, although i don't feel well after eating too much... but things definitely have improved, just like the books tell you!

my little baby for now...

yup, he is a cutie, and the fluffiest friend indeed!  i love him so much... harvest is always a happy welcome when i come back home from a full day at the store, and at night he always gets the royal massage and scratch treatment from mama, and then curls up for the night...although he does take up the covers (he's a bit of a pudge), and he hunts and eats in a fashion i would rather not know about!  but he is my little baby...

magical kingdoms...

the forest is a magical place these days indeed! i can feel the fairies, gnomes and elves busily going about their business during these beautiful fall days... some rain, some sunshine, fresh air, falling leaves and the smell of woodstoves are truly a wonderful thing... we are very happy an indian summer is upon us in this last week of september, as we know the chill of mid-october will be with us soon... it is amazing how we humans adapt to all these changes!  i myself have trouble with all the wardrobe changes, since my pants are becoming too snug, and i am getting a little lazy with my outfits... lazy indeed these days...

michaelmas dragon...

what have i been busy doing the last week or so when i have had time...well, a dragon pinata!  my friend kathy is having a michaelmas feast with her kids and their waldorfian friends, and because i love waldorf too, i was happy to volunteer for this project...
my first mistake was to use duct tape!  paper mache does not stick to duct tape, so i had to tape over with masking tape...second mistake, don't use spelt flour for the flour-water mix! use only normal white flour, because the gluten content in it makes the best glue! for this project i used three cups of flour with about eight cups of water...
paper mache takes a while to dry, so i had to come back to the dragon every couple of days...here is the very very helpful website: http://ultimatepapermache.com/cheap-art/paper-mache-dragon
a very good tip is to tape your creation on a pedestal of some kind (i used a flower pot), it is very helpful, also, tear your newspaper into thick strips when paper mache-ing, like two inches wide!
this was fun, i only wish i had an art room, it would have been easier (we live in a 453 square feet yurt)!

fall feelings...

here is a photo of the harvest moon taken outside the yurt...it was a beautiful crisp night leading up to the full moon, and now we have some rain once again.   i have been feeling pretty good, still get a bit queasy in the mornings and if i have been sitting too long (which happens at work)...when i have my days off i feel much better and I move around more too...i am hoping to take some sort of prenatal exercise class, just waiting for one more week to pass...
today i pitter pattered in the garden and wrapped my green tomatoes individually in newspaper, so hopefully that will help them out since it has been really nippy lately...or there is always this recipe...
Fried Green Tomatoes

4 large green tomatoes

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup bread crumbs (try seasoned bread crumbs too!)

2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Slice tomatoes 1/3 inch thick. Discard the ends.

Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

fall is here...

lots of dragonflies, grasshoppers and other little flying things, as the sunshine peeked its head out today as temperatures continue to drop... yesturday i went to see the midwives, and i have chosen them as my primary caregivers because the one i spoke to was really wonderful, warm and really took the time to speak with me about everything.  i also want my pregnancy to be more intimate, not at a doctor's office, and not in a an environment where people are there because they are sick.  the midwives are in a beautiful heritage building, with meeting rooms that are more intimate and living-room like, and only for pregnancy and baby care.  i also like how the midwife is with you throughout your whole active labour, a constant support network for me and my honey.  i feel really good about the decision, an added bonus being that they are registerd, so they are covered by medical, yay!

off the beaten path...

wow, what a beautiful walk off the beaten path in the forest with furball one and furball two.  if only i could capture the smell in the photos, one of those autumn forest smells, absolutely wonderful!  i was feeling like a slug after my nap, and i know how going outside is the ultimate remedy despite the rainy grey skies... i have been feeling less nauseous lately, which is really good, although i still feel a bit slow...
there was a bear right by our yurt last night, munching on the apples on the apple tree, i thought it was deer so i didn't pay any attention!  they are pretty harmless though, it was actually the dogs that kept me awake all night... oh the dogs...
p.s. i could just imagine one of those waldorf-inspired gnomes sitting by these mushrooms!

more nature walking...

today was a bit difficult to go nature walking as the dogs around us were in high alert and one chased me and mischief for quite a ways until i stood my ground and told it to go. yeesh, and all i wanted to do was to enjoy the scenery! i feel good when walking, it is definitely therapeutic, helps to stop me from becoming too lethargic, which has been happening quite a bit lately...too many thoughts of what the future holds, and not enough will-power to create any action for the present...hopefully things will iron themselves out as Fall sets in...i do love fall.

nature walks...

so, i have been enjoying the outdoors lately, even though they are few and far between, mostly because of work and the coldish air.  carrying the camera helps me to pause, to connect with nature as my mind is a bowl of mush these days...not sure what to do about it, is it the pregnancy? work? whatever it is, it has stolen my motivation and traded in my body for that of a sloth...ah the transitions in seasons and in life, how they affect us so.

today, on my day off, i cleaned the yurt, and i feel so much better...i love a clean environment, it feels more fresh and renewed in a way, a good way to start the day.  today is a beautiful fall day with the sun peaking through every now and then, and a fresh crisp smell in the air, i wish i had an oven cause this would be a perfect day for an apple pie from the wild apple trees that are everywhere here in the valley.  i love pies, especially apple, strawberry rhubarb and blueberry, but pretty much any freshly baked fruit pie!

soul preparation...

thanks to a whole bunch of awesome blogs and websites, see the list to the right, i have a new perspective of carrying a life in me.  what resonated the most was pregnancy as a time for soul preparation.  that means meditation, inner work, and communication with my honey.  well, i'll see how that goes! 
for now i am still experiencing lots of fatigue and nausea, but i've been told it is completely normal...so far only dinner feels good, but at least i can enjoy that somewhat...today's was vegan mac and cheese, i prefer it over the real cheese one, even though i love cheese!
vegan mac & cheese
cooked pasta for two of your liking
sauce...
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (find it at your health food store)
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1cup water or 1 1/4 cups milk
1 Tbsp oil
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp dijon mustard
Whisk the dry ingredients in a small pot, add the rest of the ingredients over medium heat until it thinkens.
This sauce is very nutritious, and can also be used for eggs benedict!

thwump thwump...

why a photo of my tummy? well, because i heard the first heartbeats of the little moonmonster in my tummy! yup, a quick feathery heartbeat at ten weeks or so...crossing my fingers that this one will go well...stocking up on the floradix, and the awesome prenatal multivitamins(New Chapter Organics)...the nausea is killing me, but alas, the sacrifices i can deal with for sure, just can't take that darn rickety bus ride into town, so the hitchhiking has been saving me and my tummy!

chomp chomp...

aaahhh, september...a time of change, a time to seek balance, and a time to compost what has happened in the year, and what to cultivate for the time ahead.  today, a first thought as i sipped tea and chomped on my muffin: love, health and joy, the most important and simple things to cultivate in my life.  i have the tendency with my "geminitis" to overthink, overdream and underappreciate...it is time to be more aware of the really important things in life. 

by the way that is our dog mischief standing infront of our garden gate, where things will soon need to be stripped away, composted and mulched for the fall and winter ahead...

a snuggle...

today i was not feeling good, and of course kitty sensed it and snuggled with me all day long with lots of cute murmurs and purring, it was difficult to feel sad in bed with harvest by my side! i spent most of the time sleeping and reading Rhythm of the Home, a super great read:)

mmmm harvest...

 

yes, these are fresh from the garden: grated carrot, beet, potato and onion! and what am i making? pakoras! yes, all you add is flour, indian spices, salt, garlic (also fresh fom the garden) and some water, and then fry! so yummy with this rhubarb chutney that i bought at our local community market...yum!

my furry friend...

i have to say something about my cutest fluffiest little friend, harvest, who cuddles with us at night, in the morning and when we are watching a movie too! he always likes to have one of his paws touching us, and he is the sweetest pudgiest cat ever! my honey rescued him from castlegar where he was found lost in the streets by a paper boy in march two years ago...love you harvest...

get ready...set...go!

okay, here i go! finally going to start committing myself to an online journal! may this bring me fun, laughter, prosperity and...well, adventure!  my friend kathy inspired me, so here I am. 
today's note of interest: a peanut butter, honey and cheese sandwich for lunch, yummmy! and thanks to my most amazing mom for all the delicious yummies she sent us in the mail...mom's are the best!