We gotta curl up for suspenseful parts!

Another recipe- this time true to the original because we located several pints of fresh raspberries and lo- more lovely loaves were born of this fine day.

Though it rained big old fat splooshy rain on us and thunderheads rolled in {dark as pewter against the dove} and yet we stilled our tennis rackets (the loaves were baking-what else were we to do...?) and listened discreetly to the uppity wind and the upturned leaves and the haughty dark clouds as they moved swiftly in their sky currents towards an unknown ocean leaving us saturated-
but happy.

Then the oven timer went TING so we knew that... our baking was baked!

It was then she suggested we watch Safe Haven yet again- and we both agreed that this time we could enjoy it now that we know what happens to Katie and we didn't feel as nervous.

But then we both agreed that during the suspenseful parts {which is anytime they show the ex-husband's face really} that we gotta tuck our legs up and curl in for the really suspenseful bits.  Somehow it just doesn't pay to leave your feet on the floor. Do you know what I mean?

Reading: Nicholas Sparks' The Best of Me
Eating: Not much.  But drinking lots of my favourite Butter Toffee coffee with a sploosh of milk and one packet of raw brown sugar.
Regretting: Lots, but taking actions to correct this with lots of paying attention and excelling at being ME.
Loving:  Time with my daughters.  All we do is laugh & cuddle & bake.  And watch great films.

 

Today's Meditation :: Baking Blackberry Loaf.

Collect your bakeware.  
Assemble your ingredients.
Breathe- and again.

Deeply.

Go about each step ritualistically, like it's the most important job on Earth (it IS).

Bask in the now moments that make up baking.

The plump fresh eggs.
The crystalline diamonds of sugar.
The heavy scent of rich Madagascar Vanilla.
Butter butter and more BUTTER.

Enjoy a warm slice with some decaf herbal tea.

xo
G
 

Inheritance.

The Magpie's Fancy: Legacy V: Inheritance: This week's Legacy post is
by my friend Gillian da Silva.  You know how some people make you feel like everything's gonna be just fi...

Lemon Olive Oil Cake

 

 

This Lemon Olive Oil Cake is super light yet moist and lemony.  I actually picked up a gossip magazine while shopping because it had this recipe in it.  I despise gossip magazines, and gossip in general- {really hate supporting that industry...} BUT! This recipe caught my eye as I was perusing the article of brave Angelina Jolie, and so it came home with me (for shame!) and now the $4.99 I spent on the rag will forever be scrap-booked in my recipe collection of KEEPERS. So some good came of this. In fact if I may, I'd add an extra lemon next time.  Zest THREE.  Trust me.

 Lemon Olive Oil Cake

1 cup cake flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt
3 farm fresh eggs

2 1/2 cups sugar

ZEST of TWO CALIFORNIA LEMONS

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/2 cups extra-virgin cold pressed olive oil

3/4 cup toasted sweetened coconut

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease & flour a 9x13 pan.
2. Combine both flours, baking soda and powder, and salt.  In a separate bowl whisk eggs & sugar together well.  Stir in ZEST, milk & oil until well combined.
3. Fold in dry ingredients & coconut. Pour into pan and bake for 45 minutes. 

Serves 8-10 on any splendid occasion or for hungry girls with their breakfast tea. Lemon cake for breakfast, why not? Hub says it's the best dessert I've ever made.  I agree.

xo G

Recipe courtesy of Top Chef Kristen Kish

     

It's just lemon cake & fireworks over here {the usual happinesses}

Lately I am a mirror; if you aren't sure what that means well, then let me tell ya.  

I give exactly back what is given to me.  No more, no less.  It's a technique I use now and then to save myself a ton of energy.  It really works.  Just reflect back what is given to you.  Easy peasy. 

[Those who give of themselves will just fall over with adoration, those who are stingy with their time and love will notice your absence.  It's a bit of a reality check for both parties- the true path to illuminate who and what you should be focusing your love and attention on :) }

When the going gets tough, this family gets tougher. We kick serious ass in the happiness department.

The last few months have been extremely stressful challenging. But we managed to figure it all out. It largely wasn't due to us, which was such a relief. 

So lemon cakes were baked with farm fresh eggs and California lemons.
Flowers were planted- succulent gardens and heaps of marigolds.
Windows thrown open to usher out the stale energy and hustle in the fresh floral and grassy mowed air.

Things are as they should be. Perfection.

And the focus is all on us.  All on US. As it should be for every family.

Happy Victoria Day weekend.
xo G

p.s. Not sure who gets credit for the top photo, if you know let me know. Lemon photo is mine all mine.  Love me some lemons. xo

Living room dancing: the cost free cure for what ails you

Have you watched The Lorax? It's this incredible animated film with a handful of awesome stars; Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, and the effervescent Betty White, to name but a few.

Well each time my girls and I watch the film, the closing scene with The Once-ler and The Lorax wells us up with tears. Yes, we are sensitive souls. And then shortly after the credits begin to roll- the most wondrous song features. Listen to it here.

This film based on a Dr.Suess book is one of the greatest films you could ever share with your children. It will engage them with funny writing, loveable characters and a strong message....

...and you can also dance with them in your living room too. Bronwyn jumps straight up and down like a Maasai warrior the likes of which would rival Gwen Stefani at the height of her No Doubt early days. 

It is so much fun that I swear our souls will bust loose from our bone cages and fly. Try it. If you don't have children watch it anyway- you will love it. And may I recommend you follow that up with John Travolta in Hairspray? 

You won't regret it- and you will be singing all week long. 

This painting was a Mother's Day creation from my eldest- Liv. 

She really puts the "Live" in Liv. All the way. 

Let it grow.........! 

xoG

   

The particularness of someone who mattered.

“You’ll get over it…” It’s the clichés that cause the trouble. To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don’t get over it because "it” is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve over is not made anodyne by death. This hole in my heart is in the shape of you and no-one else can fit it. Why would I want them to?”

― Jeanette Winterson, Written on the Body


For those who are missing part of their equation this Mother's Day.

For my best friend who misses her mom.
For my friend who tragically lost her teenage daughter.
For my own mom who misses her mother (miss you Irene) everyday.
For my Mother-In-Law who is missed so deeply every time we cook swede in this house {and on countless other occasions, moments, special days...}
For Adelina, miss you.
For a wonderful friend and mother I know who lost a son to cancer.
And for anyone really- who suffers the loss of a loved one.

Grief cannot be architected into a neat little space. We hear of all things being energy, and that all the matter of the Universe exists and always has done so you cannot really die...and that you simply take on another form. Well- I believe that I truly do but what do you do when the form you love with all your heart and soul goes on?

No amount of new age or science bullshit can fix that gaping hole. Because there will only ever be one YOU.

YOU are missed today.

So I will live with love, and tolerance, and patience to honour YOU.