I’m currently sitting in the kitchen of my home, watching my love read “The Humanure Handbook: a guide to composting human manure.”
I just took out a batch of cookies from the oven– fruit & oatmeal cookies from my favorite cookbook: Simply In Season. My favorite kind of evenings are the restful ones, spent with him in the covers, baking in the kitchen, sneaking a peak at him from across the room, laughing & discussing radical topics such as composting your own shit (no joke!), & imagining the lives we will be living this time next year.
This weekend was a true blessing from God. I’ve been suffering a bit, or at least this past week, with some winter depression. God brought, this weekend, blue skies & 60 degree weather. Everyone was on their bikes & eating ice cream from the local ice cream shop. It was a charming time in downtown. I love to be living & working & learning in downtown Columbia; it is a town so special to me.
& during the weekend, I had time to photograph my Saturday breakfast & lunch.
breakfast: yogurt & autumn granola, hot cocoa, toast with apple butter, & two hard-boiled eggs.
lunch: salad greens with celery & feta, celery wedges with peanut butter & granola, & tofurkey & swiss sandwich with dark rye bread & mustard.
Luke & I also had time to finish our Save the Dates! I am so excited; they’re so lovely & totally unique. Handwritten & filled with polaroid pictures 🙂
I suppose it is time to get back to my Sunday evening. I have to get ready for my week ahead. I’m starting a hip hop dancing class this week! I am beyond excited, haha!
ps: Tori tagged me to post my “6th folder, 6th picture” & explain it.
During my first semester of college, my friends & I were walking on campus & found this letter in a bush. It was hysterical!
love,
Natalie
In changing my major to Special Education, I’ve brought on a huge workload that requires me being on campus from 7:30 to 4:00 most days. Also, planning a wedding for the summer doesn’t help in my need for “me time,” but this afternoon, I sat aside some time to make company muffins, a recipe from Simply in Season, my very favorite cookbook.
These muffins are perfect for morning when you must grab something & go. Also, this recipe includes ingredients that are in season, naturally sweet, & are healthy.
I hope you make & enjoy!
——
Company Muffins Recipe:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oat bran or rolled oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
In large bowl combine & stir well.
2 large tart apples (peeled, cored, & shredded)
1 1/2 cups carrots (finely shredded)
1 cup walnuts (chopped) or flax seed meal – I used 1/2 cup wheat germ instead
1/2 cup raisins
Add & stir to coat. Make well in center.
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
In seperate bowl mix together. Pour into flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full. Bake in preheated oven at 375F for 18-20 minutes. Yields 18 muffins.
love,
Natalie
ps. the beauty, the symbolism that I am his & he is mine, forever. 🙂
But I have an excuse…
We’re engaged!!!
& will be married 1 August 2009!
He asked me to go hiking on a familiar trail of ours, a trail that we discovered on his birthday. For Missouri winters, the weather was a rarity- soft blue skies, a 70s-style sort-of yellow grass, pleasant winds. During our hike, we came upon a creek we had, this past summer, soaked our bare feet in. This winter, the creek was frozen; we were able to walk across the ice- it was something special. The significance of seasons shown through this trail harmonizes so well with our love. As we walked up the hill, overlooking the country side, Luke asked if we could stop. He put down his backpack, he put down his camera; he held me. Soon enough, he pulled something out of his pocket & got down on one knee- it was the ring! A soft pearl & gold band- a beauty found only at an antique store! “Will you marry me?” Of course!!!!
With this year, for me, comes the appreciation for seasons. He came back in summertime, full of smiles, laughter, bare feet & now we’re creating a forever life together starting in the winter, full of white snow, pink cheeks, dead pastures. Both lovely & so very unique.
I hope in these six months, I will be surrounded by God’s love in preparation for joining as one. We’re so young and so new, so our love will be, too. This is in our hearts, lets make a life together!
love,
Natalie