'Tis the season

December has creeped up again, I feel like this year has gone by SO fast. I love the holiday season...at home. Family, friends, baking, warm fires, baking, snow, crafts ( rum-nog) What's not to love?

I made a wreath last year and kept the frame. The frame is metal, I just composted the branches and put it away for the years to come. I got out my scissors this afternoon and walked around the yard clipping branches. It took me about  20 minutes to put this together. I pulled out some ribbon from the holiday box and a few small decorations to finish it off.

This morning I went to Ocean's Entrepreneur fair, this is her last year in Jr. High and all the students are required to make and sell a product.  Ocean and Becky (besties) choose to make moustaches on a stick! It was super loud in the gymnasium, but fun(nny). There was a lot of pet rocks for sale. HAHA.  I hope they sold out, otherwise family will be getting some moustaches for presents.

moustache boutique

Leeluu's Kitchen

Play kitchen are expensive, especially the wood ones! After coming across some pretty awesome DIY recycled play kitchens, I decided that I was going to make one for Leeluu's birthday. She turns 3 this Saturday.

I kept my eye out for an old cabinet of Kijij, and found this one for $15 dollars. I am not the handiest person but I kept it pretty simple. After all it's for her to use her imagination.

The curtains I sewed and strung on a wooden dowel. The sink (metal bowl) I picked up at the dollar store for, you guessed it, a dollar! The paint is the kind in the really small can that you can test out on your walls.

I am excited to find some little baskets this week and fill them up with cooking gear! I know she is going to make some yummy vegan meals for all her buddies (stuffed animals).

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

-Albert Einstein

Split pea soup (slow cooker styles!)

This morning I rinsed some split peas and through them into the slow cooker with chopped potato,carrot, onion and couple of bay leafs. By the time it starts bubbling it fills the house with the most amazing "cottage diner" smell. I don't know how else to describe it? You know the kind of restaurant that is off the beaten track, with the home cooked menu mom and pop run. Yep that's the smell (without the grease!) haha

I love my slow cooker. I just throw whatever I want in it and turn it on high. Leave it for 5-6 hours, and a meal is usually made without too much fuss. If you are using dried beans...a little forethought is needed, they need to be soaked overnight. What is great about using dried lentils and peas is that they don't need to be soaked, just rinsed 3 or 4 times and there good to go.

Split pea soup (slow cooker styles!)

2 cups dried split peas
2 potato- peeled and chopped
2-3 carrots-peeled and chopped
1 medium onion- small diced
2 bay leafs
6 cups water
apple cider vinegar
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
fresh mint for garnish (optional)
vegan sour cream (optional)

Put everything into the slow cooker turn it on high ( except the vinegar, salt and pepper, save that for fine tuning). Let cook for 5 hours, stir it up. Season to taste.

leaf inspection

Over the last few days we have found some really beautiful leaves. We have made a collage with some (construction paper and glue), and I am thinking a stain glass leaf window with the other?  We ventured outside this afternoon for some leaf hunting and the little one said she wanted to go back in for a hot cocoa and some snuggles..its getting chilly!

showing off her collection

Making a winter wreath

 

I thought I would try to make a winter wreath, it was fun and made the house smell good! I went to the craft store to picked up the supplies. A metal frame, some wire and a few decorations.  I didn't even need to use the wire (except for the hanging of it). I just tucked the branches around it, and they held into place. When you are taking clippings from the trees, try to get the baby branches, they are much easier to work with. It was pretty inexpensive to make, 11 dollars. I think if I can find a pretty ribbon I might make a bow for it?

 

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