thishomemadelife | 2011 August

How to Make and Freeze Basil Pesto

August 31, 2011

A Hillside Orchard

August 29, 2011

Saturday was one of those days when we had nothing on the calendar. No soccer games, no practices, no work. It felt like a huge sigh of relief for all of us. Although the boys were still up early we moved at a bit slower pace. Pancakes for breakfast. Reading the paper. The boys making plans for the day that included lots of time on their bikes and with friends. I’d been looking for a place to go raspberry picking and in my search came across an orchard about 45 minutes away. Not only did they have raspberries, but Gala apples that were ready for picking. It seemed like just the right way to start our free day. Family time, picking berries, being outside. So, loading everyone into the van we headed down the road. The drive was beautiful. Passing rows upon rows of corn, their stalks stretching toward the sun, tassles swaying gently in the cool, morning breeze. Red barns, cows grazing lazily in fields, a couple old schoolhouses. As much as I love the mountains of Colorado there is something just as peaceful about driving down a country road, passing farms, wondering about the history of the land and how long families have made it their home. Nothing but wide open spaces and being able to see for miles. This is where we live and sometimes I forget how truly beautiful it can be. We arrived at the orchard and after a quick set of instructions from the farmer were on our way to start picking. The raspberry patch looked out over a hillside of sorts and you could see the last bit of morning fog dissipating as [...]

Listen Up

August 25, 2011

So, today’s post was supposed to be about peach salsa and the greatness that is Colorado peaches. Instead it’s going to be about something else… Excuse we while I step up on my soap box. (deep breath…okay, here we go) Last week, I went to the doctor for a physical. It’s something I had put off for awhile, but now, with all the boys in school, I finally made an appointment. In the course of all the lab work I found out on Tuesday that I am anemic. Nothing big, easily treated. Anemia is not the topic of this post. The point of this post is taking care of yourself and the importance of listening to your body. I had been feeling bad for a long time. Tired, dizzy, decreased endurance when working out, insomnia. I dismissed it all. Don’t all moms feel this way? Doesn’t being tired go hand in hand with being a mom? Turns out, you can’t blame everything on motherhood. There is something in each of us, call it an inner voice of sorts, that we hear or feel when something isn’t right within us. I’d been hearing that voice for awhile, but chose to ignore it. I knew I shouldn’t feel so tired, that I should be able to run 3 miles without feeling faint, that I really shouldn’t need a nap everyday. I am a high energy person, none of these things really fit. There was always some reason to put off going to the doctor, even though I knew I needed to get there. As a parent most of us put our family’s needs ahead of our own. Somehow, we’ve been given the impression, the wrong impression, that it makes us a better parent by making this sacrifice. Who [...]

Roasted Vegetable Dip

August 23, 2011

Changing Seasons

August 22, 2011

Fall is coming. Over the weekend, you could see it in small glimpses and smell it on the gentle breeze blowing through the air. Although summer isn’t gone, there are hints everywhere of it’s fading. It’s as if we are sitting in the gray area of seasons. One winding down for another year, the next waiting in line for a turn in the sun. I didn’t have too look much farther than my backyard to see the signs. Our summer sunflowers are finishing up, but the zinnias are still growing strong. Conversations have turned to school work and fall activities. In the garden, the tomatoes are showing no sign of slowing down. And the basil is growing faster than ever. Pesto anyone? Caterpillars have taken over the parsley. Starting small and eating their way to chubbiness one parsley leaf at a time. I counted 15 in our garden on Saturday evening. I’m finding I kind of like this in-between stage, but I’ll be honest, fall is by far one of my favorite seasons. If the next few weeks, go as fast as the last few have, the first day of fall will be upon us before we know it. So many fun days, beautiful colors and comforting recipes lie ahead! Catching up from the weekend is on the ‘to-do’ list for me today. How about you? Hope your week is off to a great start! Alison

How to Make and Freeze Basil Pesto

A Hillside Orchard

Listen Up

Roasted Vegetable Dip

Changing Seasons

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