Random updates

I am stinky at remembering to blog! I’m going to try to be better about it!

This weekend we relocated to a new apartment that resides in our friends backyard.

We still have about ten boxes to unpack/purge. But we are really loving the new place. It is small in size but big in love! I can’t wait to make it more homey. More our own. We need to convert my old desk into a kitchen island/table, and we need a tall dresser and/or tall bookshelf. Apparently hobbits made all of our furniture :/

I’m stoked to be adding a little one to our family in February! I can’t stop smiling, especially now that I’m not puking every ten seconds. :)

My dreams are filled with cloth diapers, baby clothes, cradles and murals.
This is a photo of Marshall, Baby B, and I. I’m only 13 weeks here I believe? Saturday I’ll be 20 weeks! Someone come take some decent pictures of my belly!

My friend Amanda is home!!! She and her husband were missionaries to China up until last week when they received some big news. She has leukemia. It was and still is a shock to them and everyone they know.

Keep her and her family in your prayers as they seek Gods will for a treatment plan.

Photo Credit: Erin Bedenbaugh

P.s. If you’re not subscribed to her blog… You should be!

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Yummy Soup Recipe

I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen lately, here is one of my latest concoctions. :)

Sweet and Savory Winter Squash Soup
-With a dash of warmth.

((Photo Credit: Marshall Bogue))

 

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons Butter
1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped
1 Butternut Squash
1 Acorn Squash
1 Carrot Chopped finely (optional)
1 Stalk of Celery, Chopped (optional)
1/4 Cup Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Chopped (optional)
1/2 Teaspoon fresh Ginger, minced (or dry if you must)
1 medium fresh Jalapeno Pepper chopped, seeds and all
1 Medium Golden Delicious Apple, peeled and chopped
4 Crushed Garlic Cloves
1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne
2 Cups Apple Cider (Or Simply Apple Juice)
2 Cup Chicken Stock (Or Broth, whatever you have)
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Dollop of sour cream per serving(optional)
Crusty Bread (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 375 F

Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds. Cut in half lengthwise and cover all sides with olive oil. Salt and pepper and then place face down on cookie sheet. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until a fork slides easily into the squash.

Meanwhile place butter, chopped onion and all the dry spices into a big pan/pot and saute for 10 minutes. Add fresh garlic, celery, carrot, roasted peppers, ginger and Jalapeno and saute for 5 minutes. Add apple, apple juice, and broth and simmer until carrots are tender. About 20 minutes.

Take squash out of the oven and let cool until easy to handle. Peel off skin and add the meat of squash to the simmering pot….heat through for 5 minutes. Turn off heat!

Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return to pot and depending on size of squash you may need to add water until texture is a little thicker than you want. Then stir in cream. Heat more on low if desired, but unnecessary if eating right away.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some crusty bread.

ENJOY!

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Rain

Frankfurt is cloudy, rainy, and yucky which means I have absolutely nothing to do.

The past week I’ve spent my mornings relaxing with tea and reading. The rest of my days were spent walking, sitting on benches, Reading, being cold, walking, exploring, walking, taking photographs like a tourist and yep, you guessed it, more walking. My legs are so sore.

So, I’m stumbling through a bunch of super amazing craft ideas. I wish I could sew…and had a sewing machine for that matter. I can’t wait to try a few of them out when I get home!

Here are a few:

* Dresses
(I basically want to wear these every single day for the rest of my life…)

* Roses

* More Flowers

* Lanterns

* Rug

* Christmas Tree

* Path

* Soap

* Plantable Paper
(How did I not know about this?!)

* Precious Homemade Eggs

* Flower Pop up
(I want this on my table)

By a few I guess I meant a lot…oops. :)

Here  is just an interesting read about food combinations … and this is neat too.

Ok, time for eggs and more tea.

And here’s a really neat picture…for good measure. I want to live in this tree…

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