On Granola!

Hello! as i said i would, here is a recipe for granola i found on the RockstarDiaries from a guest blogger.

as per the rockstar diaries, here is the recipe:

2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

pinch of ground ginger

½ cup honey

⅜ cup brown rice syrup (available in the natural section of the grocery store or at a natural foods store)

½ cup almonds

½ cup walnuts

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or other oil you have on hand

set the oven to 300 degrees F and set some parchment paper on trays. i think one tray would do if you aren't doubling the recipe. combine all of your dry ingredients in one large bowl then ass your liquid ones, then mix all together. spread on parchment paper once everything looks yummy and golden in the bowl. the original recipe says 40-60 minutes; i did around 45 minutes and then took it out. if your granola seems not crunchy enough, setting it outside of the oven should harden it a little.

happy baking! and lets wish for some snow...

On falling in love with a wolf

i fell in love with a wolf

he kissed me on the snout real gently;

and so i fell in love with him.

I couldnt see past my moon-rayed eyes

too young and paws kept flinching

at the cold ground

but it was winter, so I was right in flinching

and howling deep

and so its ok that I did

and i'll live with my quiet wild

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On the notion of winter solstice

hope everyone had a merry winter solstice! still no snow here, but i am hoping for some.

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dating evolution is a difficult thing

one tangle or slip and its a beach

on fire

a tree invading a rock (more personally than is personable)

or a long line of mountains dipping into Below

but her golden eyes are so

irrefutably golden.

she was really winking when she looked at the earth (at you)

you felt her gaze melt and be reflected in your pools

this might be a long-term thing.

love!

-abi

On the notion of Hobbit cupcakes and a lovely blog award

i made vegan cupcakes for the Hobbit party in my english class tomorrow! Enjoy the pictures, they really are scrumptious! if you should want, I can post the recipe soon. The frosting is vegan cream cheese with a bag of powdered sugar and food coloring.. its really quite tasty!!!

I also found these pictures on my camera, I took them but I don't remember the sky being that... indescribable. "The sky'd be so big that it broke my soul"- Regina Spektor

Also, thank you to Ashley for this blog award! <3

The Rules:

1) Thank the person who awarded you. 2) Write a post about it. 3) Answer the questions. 4) Award five deserving blogs, and inform them about it.

Here are the questions:

Q: favorite colour?

A: Teal

Q: favorite animal?

A: Chipmunk and cheetahs and tigers!

Q: favorite number?

A: 23 (can never find that darn number on fortune cookies!)

Q: favorite drink (alcoholic)?
A: Bloody Marys!

Q: Facebook or Twitter?
A: Facebook

Q: your passion?
A: fair trade, writing, exploring

Q: give presents or receive presents?
A: give presents

Q: favorite pattern
A: plaid

Q: favorite day of the week?
A: sunday or friday

Q: favorite flower?
A: iris

and I will pass this award on to:

Hivenn

Folk Sister

The Fiercest Lilliputian

Sea of Daisies

Victus Memoria

love

On the notion of journey

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we are all either on our journey or still on our doorstep-- but it all leads to the same place eventually: our home, wherever that may be, but I hope it is surrounded by close friends and eternal (yet always temporary) comforts.

lucky for me I am on a journey while finding a new home-- here! thank you truly to all who read my blog, I am grateful : )

On the notion of journey, let me share dear Bilbo's verse:

"The Road goes ever on and on,

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say"

well said, Bilbo, well said.

also on this monday I anticipate gift giving (I always have, for some reason) and hopefully snow! and I hope that deer will return to my yard soon (they were recently replaced and displaced by houses...)

I will post about the bunting I made, Granola (soon to be made, more yummy vegan-ness, I assure you) and about the special blog award Ashley gave me !

I especially would like to post poetry of mine, but it hasn't been coming to me lately and this makes me unsettled...

this is old, perhaps it is nice to read?

it will get lost in the breeze

that strong song we sung

from the morning with dew covering the wide wild forests

to the dusk that wrapped us in calm and closeness

nothing will reach your ears

but know that we sang for you

and for all to hear.

sorry if this post is long, I also wanted to share (above) two photos that inspire me lately !

(3) if you like DIY and beautiful outfits, head to Elsie's blog!

(4) and visit Caitlin's blog, her outfits are so lovely and perfect for winter wardrobe inspiration.

Please share quotations from your favorite novels/books! I collect quotations like the sky collects stars!

thank you readers!

love!

-a.b

Yummy winter leeks for another Monday

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These are some things I found around that I enjoy... except for the picture of me (that'd be weird if I found that on the internet....)

Starbucks soy hot chocolates! I did say I was going to phase any soy out of my diet... but I find this to be very hard especially since I am trying my vegan endeavor at the same time. It will happen eventually...! (i'm sure once its not winter anymore...)

The guy second from the right it Brett McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords. Awesome, awesome band/duo from New Zealand. They are very funny, and their skit about LOTR is very humorous... You can see their humor in the first photo which actually has the actual members. I recommend their "Jenny" skit on youtube!

This girl is very cool! Her outfits are very whimsical, which is always very cool to see and her poetry is delightful to read.

I am also posting a recipe!! The picture doesn't show how good it is... Nevertheless! Its very a very yummy vegan dish that I make all of the time.

Simply add olive oil to a pan, let it heat but not too much (not making fried dough here...) Might want to put it on medium

2. Take one leek (or two, you can never have too much leek) and cut it so that it is facing you horizontally. Thinly! You will have little rings.Cut close to the green but not all the way up. You can rinse now!

3. Put the leeks into the pan and watch as they brown and sizzle (and now for the beans!)

4. Have a can of white beans nearby (drain as needed). Add them to the pan with the leeks looking yummy. Since the beans will be pre-cooked, you are only heating them up and letting them get a bit crunchy.. so wait until they are crispy looking (that's how I prefer them)

5. Yum yum!

-a.b

wonder how to wander?

did you feel it in the heart?

that sense that touches veins and snow

and all leads to a greater Start?

Stars that gallop and boats that row

lead to a sense of universe

and peeping curiosity that breaks

buttons with its gerth—

Lucy to wardrobe and edmund to cakes

Fantastical and unmitigated

breaking even the widest of dams

take a breath to see what is created

and all can be found in your hands.

another monday : )

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These are pieces of inspiration for me lately....

1. I love the idea of making little jars with christmas trees in them that I found on La Quaintrelle's blog. So going to do this since I am not going to celebrate Christmas as in the past! no tree (not very environmentally sound) and probably not doing a gift exchange. Instead, perhaps I'll make a bunch of these for the house...

2. I think these words ring very clearly.

3 + 4. I LOVE A Beautiful Mess. Its a really fantastic style/ DIY site and the bloggers are really sweet! I especially enjoy this outfit and her hair style!

5. Who doesn't love Mr. Tumnus?

6. This outfit photo is from the Delightful Dozen, which is another awesome blog-- except this one has 12 style bloggers who have created a communal blog. Its a really great idea. This is Elizabeth, from Delightfully-Tacky, one of my favorite blogs. I've been following her for two years now, its such a treat.

7 + 8. Andrew Bird is one of my favorite artists by now... His music is... somewhere between that feeling you feel when seeing a group of ravens and what a yogic moment of revelation would look like... add in some actual music. : ). my favorite song is "Oh No".

9 + 10. Mia Wasikowska was in Tum Burton's newest version of "Alice in Wonderland". She acted brilliantly, as always, and though the actual unfolding of this particular plot fell short, the costumes were beautiful. I particularly like this suit of armour she's wearing! I would love to wear something like that! (only when fighting a jabberwocky of course...)

-a.b

enjoy your monday!