Ten Years Ago, and Fall Colours

The fall leaves haven't reached their colour peak yet this year, so my camera is on stand by.  Waiting to capture the spectacular show that the trees put on each year.  Until then...flashback to ten years ago.  Many of the leaves were already on the ground, the kids were a lot smaller, and small town fall fairs were a must-see attraction.

Ontario Parks provides a handy map to help find the best of the changing leaves and fall colours.  If you're in the area, check it out:

 

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Photo A Day

Instagram lately.

I haven't been taking a lot of photos these past few weeks, aside from the quickies that make their way to Instagram.  It's a good thing too, otherwise I might not have a record of the dirty dishes on my stove, or the crappy weather we've been having.

I'm still in an end of summer funk.

I did perk up a little last week when I got an email from ThisLife by Shutterfly.  I'd forgotten that I signed up for their photo storage site months ago, and they sent a really cool "on this day seven years ago" message which put a smile on my face.

Wow, seven years.  Holy lobsters.  Looking at the photos I could swear it was only a couple of years ago.  I wonder what memories will show up in my inbox next?

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Dog Days of Summer

It arrives like clockwork every year, this feeling of melancholy as summer draws to an end.  Next week everyone will be back to school.  We'll be up early, packing lunches, filling out forms, and adjusting to new schedules.... and I'm not ready.  

The uniforms are washed, and we have fresh pens and paper, but I'd much rather be packing up for another day at the beach.

It was a working summer, and although we tried to plan weekend outings, we didn't get very many items checked off of our summer to-do list.  It's disappointing, and adds another layer to blanket of guilt I sometimes feel as a parent.  I'm grateful for the years I was able to spend at home with my kids when they were smaller, but oh how I wish I could have had another summer with them.

I'm thankful for a big sister that took her brothers to the city for a museum outing, and a baseball game.  And for a big brother that remembered to include his brothers in after-work fishing and golfing. 

And for an impromptu trip to a small local zoo.  'Cause you're never too old for the zoo.

 

We had a wonderful weekend in Kentucky, and the boys had a fun cottage weekend with their dad, but I can't help but feel like I failed them somehow because we didn't get to do all the other things that we hoped to accomplish.

So here we are, heading into the last long weekend of the summer, wondering what we can squeeze into these last few days, and wishing that summer could last just a little longer.

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Photo A Day, Instagram Style

It took me a while to warm up to it.  I didn't get it right away.  So many selfies, so many hashtags.  But as I look back at what I've posted over the past couple of months, I see that it's become a photographic journal of sorts.  A random sampling of our days.  

Which is exactly what I'd hoped that this blog would become when I first started it.  I love the idea of journaling, and I've always been a photo junkie, but I've struggled to do any of it consistently.  I have a drawer full of half filled journals, scrapbooks that haven't seen a sticker or glue stick in ages, and baby books with more blank pages than filled.  Even with the best intentions, I've sucked at memory keeping.  But this blog has made me accountable.  In the beginning the only person reading was my Mom, then a few friends, and eventually some like-minded bloggers.  Now, I can't very easily tuck it into a drawer, because someone will call me out on it.  And for the days that there aren't any words to share, Instagram's got my back in the memory keeping department, which I think is pretty awesome.

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Hello 2014, Happy New Year!

We greeted 2014 with waffles yesterday morning.  Belgian Waffles, fresh off the waffle iron seemed a good choice to start the first day of the new year.  Watching the Winter Classic was a great way to spend the afternoon, before heading out to the toboggan hill.

It was cold, and colder still today, -25°C.  As I watched the boys go up and down the hill, I reflected on the time we've enjoyed as a family these past couple of weeks.  It was a busy, happy time.  And it was the most wintry Christmas that I can remember having in a long time.  It snowed almost every day. 

Lessons were learned.  Like the importance of shovelling the driveway before trying to drive out of it.

An ice storm caused a lot of damage just days before Christmas, but those icy trees were a beautiful sight.

We celebrated Christmas three times in three days in three different cities.

Our leaning tree is the one in the middle.  

We ate and drank, and ate some more.  Turkey of course, a spectacular whole filet mignon, and a perfect ham.  Cookies, nuts, chocolates, cakes, and never ending snacks.  My Spinach Dip made a few appearances, as did my Pizza Buns which I'll have to share with you.  I discovered a new favourite red wine,  decided that Cosmopolitans are dangerously delicious, and was reminded that I still don't like champagne.

Fun was had by all, indoors and out.

And the Belgian Waffle recipe that I use?  The one that came with my Cuisinart Waffle Maker:

Buttermilk Belgian Waffles

4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

3½ cups buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

4 large eggs, lightly beaten 

Lightly coat waffle maker with cooking spray.  I try to avoid using cooking spray and prefer to rub a small amount of vegetable oil around the surface with a bit of paper towel.  

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk together the buttermilk, vanilla, butter and eggs in a separate bowl until well combined.  If you don't keep buttermilk on hand, make your own buttermilk with one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar for each cup of milk.  Put the tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in your measuring cup, then add the milk to make one cup of buttermilk.  Allow to sit for a few minutes before combining with the other ingredients.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined.  Pour two cups of batter onto the prepared, preheated waffle maker. Quickly and carefully spread the batter evenly. Close the cover and cook until indicator light lets you know waffles are ready!  Serve immediately.

This recipe makes 20 waffles, go ahead and cut the quantities in half if you're not feeding an army.  Also the 2 cup measure of batter is for a four slice square waffle maker.  You may have to adjust the amount if you have a different waffle maker.  As amazing as the kids think it is to watch the batter ooze out the sides when you've used too much batter, it's a helluva mess to clean. 

We top our Belgian Waffles the same way we top our Oven Baked French Toast, with maple syrup, strawberries and powdered sugar, but the waffle topping possibilities are endless.  How do you top your waffles?

Happy New Year!

Thank you for featuring me!

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