To Resolve, or Not to Resolve?

I started this new year around a bonfire with friends, under a blue moon making smores and sharing funny stories. It was an awesome way to spend New Year's Eve! There was no getting around the major question on everybody's mind though, which was "what resolutions are you making for this year?" I pondered this question and thought, okay I resolve not to make any resolutions for this year. ( I think).
It's not that I don't have habits that need changing, or projects that need to be organized, weight to be lost or birthdays to keep up with better this year, it is just more that I feel the need to do these things on a regular basis more than because it is a new year and therefore I must start new habits. Maybe in part it is a rebellion against the "I have to's, or I should's" .Maybe it is just that If I resolve to do something and then don't follow through I will feel as if I have failed at whatever project I was trying to do.
So for 2010, I resolve not to make resolutions.
There are things I would like to accomplish in the new year. Some are simple and others not so much, but they are all important to me in their way.

I really like the idea of journaling about the things that make me happy each day. So many of our best memories aren't days of our lives, but simply moments that made us happy. I've noticed, that as I get older the days go faster. My grandma told me it would happen that way, but somehow it still took way to long to get to my birthday, or Cristmas. Now it happens so fast I wonder where I was while the time was evaporating.
Yes, I would love to be more organized and less cluttered this year too. I hope to accomplish, that a little at a time, but soon, very soon. Being more organized and less cluttered for me reduces stress and free time up for other things.
I would also like to work more on plants and jewelry and find some much better vegan recipes for my son.
I am off to a good start on the vegan recipes, it turned cold here today, so it was a great day for potato and broccoli soup.









I "veganized" my normal recipe and discovered it was really good and tasted much better than I imagined it would be.

Here is the recipe I made up today:

Vegan Potato & Broccoli Soup with cornbread

6 medium sized russet or white potatoes

1 head fresh Broccoli

8 cups vegetable broth

1Tbsp vegan margarine ( Earth Balance is very good)

1 cup of silk creamer ( original flavor soy creamer)

Salt and Pepper to taste, I also added some cajun seasoning and garlic powder to taste.


Peel and boil potatoes in vegetable broth just until tender and add the broccoli. Simmer until potatoes have finished cooking but are not mushy. Add the butter and soy creamer and season to your liking. Simmer until the broth is warmed again and serve with cornbread.

Vegan Cornbread "jiffy style"

1 cup yellow corn meal
2 cup self rising flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup of plain unflavored soy milk.
1/3 cup vegetable oil.



Preheat oven to 400 degrees. spray cake pan or similar sized baking dish with pam spray.

Mix all ingredients well and pour into prepared pan, bake approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown and the edges have pulled away from the pan sides. Serve warm with soup. Enjoy.

I hope you enjoy the soup and cornbread, maybe next week, I will get started on my journal and jewelry projects.

Boy Time sure flies....

Wow!
I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted. This summer brought many changes into my little world. My son became a vegan in June, so I feel as if I am failing cooking school. It is really not easy to adjust to cooking with no animal products whatsoever especially when you have never cooked without them. Most of the things I have made have been okay, but not wonderful, some not edible and very few that were requested more than once. I am spending lots of time searching the net for recipes and tips and tricks that will make things look and taste better and if they can be a little more convenient.... ( well I can dream right). I had planned to post some recipes and pictures of things we have made, but I just haven't gotten to it yet.Hopefully pictures and recipes will come soon.

Another thing that changed for me this summer, was I revisited an old craft. I took copper working classes in school and have fiddled with it on and off since then. I have a great friend who is a fine jewelry designer and who makes the most beautiful jewelry and she has shown me some methods of forging and soldering metals and so I have branched into silver as well as copper. You can follow this link to her website and see why I am so crazy about her designs. Barbara Umbel Jewelry Designs . I have made many earrings as well as a few bracelets and I will list them in my etsy shop soon.

I am hopelessly addicted to plants. Most people who know me, don't bother to question the fact that I have an extra refrigerator for seeds, but it is quite a pleasant addiction. I have heard it said that "Good things come to those who wait" and 2 nights ago good things did. I have amassed an extensive collection of Epiphyllum (orchid cactus) ( some started from refrigerated seeds) and 1 bloomed for the first time. These are nocturnal cacti and the blooms don't even begin opening until late in the evening. By morning, the blooms have finished and they only last for 1 showing. The variety that bloomed for me this week is Epiphyllum Oxypetalum. Also known as Queen of the Night. She put on quite a show and although I was too tired to stay up all night watching, I was able to see bloom. Here she is in all her glory.


Thanks for stopping by and look for updates on a regular basis real soon.

My Soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1: 4-6