This weekend was tummy bug recovery;

cleaning the disaster that was the house after both Dan and I were under the weather;

extra knitting time (cast off and number four);

started sprouts on a window sill;

art with markers, and craft sticks, and glue;

gazing at the bright of the full moon’s face;

enjoyed this which only increased my devotion to the Dames (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith);

Dan off in the morning for our food sort, a van load of goodies to sort and stack;

hilarity from the littlest jay as she learns to trust her walking legs a little more amidst busy siblings.

a grateful home visit to our beloved chiropractor to help a poor girl’s sore neck;

a sudden rush of the I-wanna-tidies;

roasted garlic hummus & veggies by Rachel with BBQ chicken by Dan;

kids settled, then settling myself on the couch for episode 4 and more knitting;

late night tears of laughter over late night texting with a friend I miss;

and surprised by joy in the most unexpected moments (and therefore the very best).

Not quite the weekend we were expecting, but very good indeed.

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How was your weekend, lovelies? Hope you find a gentle way to begin the new week – I think we’ll slide into Monday with a treat (with our gluten/dairy free alterations, of course).

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

This week has held moments of joy and moments of trial. When those moments of trial have hit I’ve been struggling more to keep my head up. But as I strained to climb mole hills which had become mountains, I finally remembered to chose gratitude.

It comes as no surprise to me, I’ve practiced gratitude before, but somehow I forget – once I start looking for moments of grace I see them everywhere.

As they’ve been writing themselves in memory this week, I decided to write them down here.

Five moments which made me stop and smile with a heart of thanks. Five moments sending me into the weekend with a happy heart.

<> walking into the family room to discover five heads (one ducked for the photo) huddled together around a book while big sister read aloud

<> the discovery of a new variety of apple, a 20lb box landed in my basement, the taste so reminiscent of childhood

<> the tremendous joy and excitement on a 6yo’s face when his new hat came off the needles

<> older siblings taking it upon themselves to work on alphabets and numbers with the little ones (while I took a nap no less)

<> stolen minute from dinner prep to stand out and look at the bright pale face of the moon, perfectly timed to watch flocks of geese eclipse the moon with their dark ‘v’

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And!!!

I nearly forgot! I have a winner to announce!

Thanks to the help of everyone’s friend, random number generator, the winner is: Connie K.

Congratulations, Connie! I’ll be sending you a note to get your info and your new project bag will be in the mail!

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared. I always have so much fun with a giveaway – I think I’ll have to plan another one before my next anniversary!

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Happy Friday, dear friends! I’m wishing you the best of the best for this January weekend! But before you head off to enjoy the moments – care to share your five on Friday? xoxo

Last week Corrie and I introduced a joint project we’ve been dreaming about for a (longish) while.

With the same word in mind, we’ve kept ours eyes open through the week to capture a photo of the chosen word. This week’s word was shadow. Corrie is revealing our photos over in her space today and hosting any others who have decided to take up the challenge to photograph shadow. I’m excited to see her photo and how others may have chosen to interpret the word.

It’s not too late to share a photo with us and you don’t need a blog to do it. Post on instagram, flickr, or the house full of jays facebook page. We want everyone to be able to participate! And don’t sweat about capturing a groundbreaking photograph! We wanted to make this a fun and easy project that is open to interpretation but not a great time commitment for those weeks when toddlers (and not so toddlers) will get into everything. Put more time into it if you want to, or just snap a quick shot – but please do share.

Next week I will be hosting the big reveal but today I get to announce our word for the upcoming week….

This is going to be fun! So many ways to interpret this one.

Won’t you join us? We’ll be back here next Thursday to reveal our photos!

In the meantime, hop over to Corrie’s to see how we captured shadow this week.

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Here’s a handy button if you’d like it for your post or sidebar.

**Last day to enter my second anniversary giveaway!**

Knitting has been even more than the usual amount of excitement this week.

Oh yes, I am knitting quite the same things I was knitting last week. The Downton Cowl is very nearly finished – I’m taking out one chart repeat hoping I don’t have to break into my second skein of tosh vintage (knitting along with Shannon‘s KAL!). As for the striped hats I’m on to the third and holding orders for the next two (well, three because older siblings are just as certain baby sis wants a stripey hat to match the rest). While I enjoy these happy knits I’m busy dreaming about the wool I picked up on a special trip out over the weekend.

I was thrilled to meet up with Rebecca, the lovely lady behind nook (blog and shop), while she was in town for a long weekend. We spent a luxurious afternoon browsing for an almost shocking amount of time, deliberating over just the right wool and colour combinations. Then we topped it off with knitting and yarn talk over tea. It was perfect. Under the influence of wool petting and colours extraordinare, with a bit of Rebecca’s remarkable enabling skills, I managed to pick up enough wool for an extra special cardigan. I’ve been browsing Sweet Georgia‘s site for a while now dreaming of knitting projects but I was thrilled to find a well stocked cubby at my local yarn shop. Now with enough, eek, sock yarn for a sweater I’m trying to decide between three cardigans (all Jane Richmond patterns). Will it be Georgia, Grace, or Audrey? (Hint, hint: Jane has a promotion on today and tomorrow only for her facebook fans.)

a few iphone photos of our afternoon out – Rebecca sporting her fresh off the needles twiggy cardigan

and since I’m already overloading this post I’ve got to show my stash additions…a gorgeous skein Raventwist Torc  (formally Rocky Mountain Dyeworks) found its way into my bag with the Sweet Georgia

In between knitting and the associated daydreams, I’ve done a little reading. I finally finished Till We Have Faces and although I didn’t know quite what to say about it when I first wrote about it, I very much enjoyed the second half. It finally pulled the story together for me and painted a more complete picture.

Now I’ve pulled the first book from my library stack, Gluten-Free Girl, by the multitalented Shauna James Ahern. It’s a memoir of sorts of her diagnosis with celiac disease and her journey back to food. I’ve checked out recipes on her blog over the last few months and have had more than a few friends direct me her way. Shauna writes beautifully and her joy of cooking and good food renew my hope in finding food to love and have me drooling over the pages. Not just for those following a gluten-free diet (by choice or preference) but for anyone who loves food.

Are you working with needle or hook this week? Got a great book on the reading pile? Please do share!

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For more stories of yarn work and reading visit Ginny‘s yarn along.

P.S. The Lexicon Project kicks off its first reveal tomorrow!

My dear in-laws have a fancy espresso maker. It’s so beautiful, I’m a little afraid to use it. Nevertheless when we visit them it calls to us with its promise of hot drinks and foamy milk. We throw caution to the wind (as caffeine is notoriously unkind me), I twist my father-in-laws arm to make “one” more latte for me, and Dan froths milk for creamy hot chocolate.

This Christmas, after what I must assume was a well-placed hint from thoughtful mom-in-law, we received a shiny new espresso maker from Dan’s aunt and uncle. It replaced the freecycle model I’d been playing with on occasion (back to freecycle with the drippy beast).

Of course, while I was living the wild life and cheating on my diet over the holidays, I made sure to enjoy a few true lattes complete with cow’s milk. But now I’m back to making the prescribed choices, darn, meaning no more milk for me. Although even decaf coffee is off my list of allowed foods, I did try a couple of almond milk lattes to see if I create a reasonable facsimile. They were thoroughly disappointing.

Finally I discovered a drink that has quickly become a favourite. Since I’ve mentioned it a couple times here already, I thought I’d share my method.

Vanilla Rooibos Latte

Almond milk is my milk substitute of choice. I don’t prefer the flavour with coffee but it makes a delicious blend with rooibos. Feel free to try it with a different milk or a different tea, I’m just offering a guideline.

1/2 cup strong brewed tea, vanilla rooibos is my favourite

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 tsp honey, or alternative sweetener for a vegan latte

1/4 tsp vanilla, optional

dash of cinnamon

Brew a strong half cup of tea, either with freshly boiled water or through an espresso machine.

Then heat and foam the almond milk using the milk frother* on an espresso machine or on the stovetop. The milk may not foam much on the stovetop, but if you prefer more foam there are small handheld and battery operated frothers to be found for cheap (ours came from IKEA). Almond milk gets a pretty generous foam – better than rice milk from what I’ve heard.

I don’t know the proper method to add to a latte but I stir the honey and vanilla into the tea, pour the hot milk over, and top with the foam. A dash of cinnamon adds a finishing touch.

I love a hot cup of creamy goodness!

*Disclaimer: All you latte aficionados please forgive my layperson’s knowledge

Lately when I’ve been craving a milky latte or my true favourite, a hot cup of milky black tea, I’ve been indulging in this sweet delight. And no caffeine makes it a great late night comfort.

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Do you have a favourite hot drink? Or perhaps a favourite comfort drink?

P.S. Thinking of all you who are joining me on the water challenge. Are you trying to wean off that extra cup of coffee? Maybe you could try a tea latte – baby steps, right? I’ve been bad the last couple of days – too many hours out of the house and I forget about my water during the afternoon. Fresh start today! The water counter giveaway is still open if you’re looking for a way to keep track of those glasses of water!

P.P.S. My box bag giveaway is also still open until Thursday!