Gingerbread Pancakes- it tastes like Christmas!

 It's been in the 80's and 90's this week... and it's amazing!  I bask in an Indian Summer.  The way when I walk outside and the sun hits my face and shoulders I can't help but be in a better mood.  Seriously.  No matter what the temperature. 

I also really really really like Fall... and it's coming!  The crunchy leaves, sweaters, cozy on the couch with a book and tea moments :)  And Tim and I can catch up on our favorite shows...

In honor of Delicious Autumn I’m posting my favorite pancake recipe: Gingerbread Pancakes.

Seriously.  It tastes like Christmas!
Gingerbread Pancackes.

1.5 c. (cup) white flour
1.5 c. wheat flour
1 c. b. sugar
1 T. (tablespoon) baking powder
1.5 t. (teaspoon) baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. g. (ground) cinnamon
1 t. g. ginger
1/4 t. g. nutmeg
1/8 t. g. cloves
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. coffee, brewed and cooled to room temp.
4 lg. eggs, beaten
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1/4 c. lemon juice

Mix all dry and wet (sugar with wet) items separately then combine. Cook on griddle and enjoy!
We top our cakes with whipped cream, applesauce or syrup (or all three!)  Yummmm!

*Side note* The first time I made these the batter was too thick. I have not altered the recipe from the first time I made them so extra water will be required. I also double this recipe and freeze the remaining cakes for a quick breakfast another morning

Home Improvement

I've been getting the crap out of our home for the last month. Simplifying so we won't have to move so much stuff next year and learning to live on less. It's been so freeing to donate and give away. A lot of people mention how I could garage sale my items or sell online, but I am just fine giving away an item the very day I label it as "unnecessary." So our place has SEVEN car loads less...

And I am reading an AMAZING book titled The Joy of Less by Francine Jay... It's transformed my perspective on our stuff and how I want to live not by surrounding myself with things, but rather live through experience. I have seven car loads less to organize, clean, store and stress over. More are going in the 'donate' pile each day :)

Things I DO!

Right now I'm up.  I slept all day after a hideous stretch at work.  Then Tim and I went back to bed about 7 hours later and here I am.  Awake at 3 am!  I'm okay with that.

I've been reading through an amazing book called BITTERSWEET by Shauna Niequist.  It's amazing.  It's some of my inspiration for this blog :)

In one chapter she describes "Things I Do."  These are things that she allows herself to do.  Like wear yoga pants 90% of the time, and she does everything she can to make her marriage a connected partnership, spending time with God.

So Here's my list of

Things I DO:

• talk to Jesus in freedom.  Read books and listen to music to remind me of God's steady love for me.  Hold Him close in those wee hours in the morning like this.  When all the word is asleep is a great time to talk with God in my own heart.
• Sleep in...
• Give Tim a hug everyday... and remember that our love is one which should be a refuge, a place where we go to when it's stormy.  To hold him up just like he's always done for me.  
• Go to Starbucks with Tim- guilt free :)
• Watch the Duggars shamelessly.  I love good wholesome midwest families.  
• Buy laundry detergent/ chai mix/spaghetti sauce and taco seasoning and not make it.  Some things in my life are simpler just being bought.
• Go to my parents house just to put my feet up for a while, spend time chit chatting and play with the dog.  
• Just going through the motions.  Not worry so much about working Nightshift.  I'm okay with that.
• Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.  yes.
• Books on "Simple Living"
• Pinterest for an hour or so :)

Stay tuned... "Things I Don't Do" is next.  And it might be a longer list!

What do you allow room in your life for?  What are the "Things You Do?"

Third Anniversary

We celebrated our Third Anniversary together on August 8th.  

I had asked Tim earlier this year to plan it.  And forgot I asked him that, so I got a sweet note when I came back last weekend with an itinerary for the evening once he got off work :)  It was CUTE! 

First I woke up to some beautiful roses, along with 2 other bouquets he had given me earlier in the week so I had three arrangements for our THREE YEARS :)

Then I got a lovely card and cried my way through it.

• We had lunch in Tigard and got our favorite Coney Dog to share.
• We went to Newberg and our favorite pet store and bookstore.  Splendid.
• Then headed to pick up our cake: Banana Whipped Cream from Beaverton Bakery.
• Dinner at Papa Hydn's in Sellwood.  Yum!
• Hard Cider at The Buschwacked Cider Bar in Portland.  It was my first taste and it was AMAZING!
• Then home to wine taste, eat cake :)

a favorite slogan "...We're Just Better"

Tim's Orzo and Scallops

Steak Amazingness

Three Years Ago... we were just babies!  

Our Cider Tasting

Turtle at the Critter Cabana

Work

I'm at work quite a bit these days! Here's my view....

Soon I will be able to show you our Anniversary Adventures :)


And yes... that's my knee in my smurf-blue scrubs!

Next Year's Garden!

Fot this year, Tim has been working hard on 2 gardens.  

1. One is at our church's Community Garden right next to the Laundry Mat our Pastor's own.Tim plants in two raised beds I have yet to get pictures of (They're beautiful!) and we mainly give away all the food at Laundry Love to the community in St. Johns.
2. Another is our little deck garden :)  

Here's the reason why I'm posting: to make a list for next year :)

What we have talked about wanting to plant in our own garden next year (hopefully at a rented house)

• zucchini
• tomatoes: heirloom varieties and some vine tomatoes
• snap peas
• cucumber
• carrots
• green beans
• basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary
• butter lettuce?
• blueberries
• of course the apple tree!

What will you plant next year?

fruits of this season so far

our little deck garden in May ...some peas, tomatoes, Apple tree, lavender, etc.

another part of the deck garden :)

Family Reunion

On August 7th my sweet mother-in-law, Sally, planned to get all of her boys and all of their families together for a Kurkinen Family Reunion.  Just the immediate family.  IT was so much fun!  

Stephen is back from Taiwan with Christy and their kiddos until the end of the month.  And David came back for a couple weeks from Australia.  

I'm blessed to be a part of such a loving family.  It was hilarious and SO fun :)

Dale (Dad) with all seven: Andrew, Sam, Joe, Steve, Phil, Tim (he's mine!) and David

The Wives (not in order): Helane, Me, Megan, Sigh, Christy and Asena

Grandma and Grandpa with all 11 Grandkids (and there is another due in December).  

Grandpa Dale and Bethany 

The Kurkinen 9 :)

Dancing!

Stephen and Christy dancing :)

The youngest 3 

Married 40 years this year!

Telling stories

More Dancing

Caed the wonder boy!

Uncle David finally meets Annabelle and Adam!  (And Bethany, Mikaela and Caed).  He's been in Australia for 2.5 years and Kurkinens make 5 babies fast ;)