I'm Starting to Feel Festive..

Renovations be damned. I'm starting to feel fairly festive!

This year, I'm obsessed with trees in pots, so far, I have 7 in the house!

Better Than Pancakes..


Just so you don't think my family is hurting for a good meal, or that they are just living off of pancakes, I give you this. One of my favourite meals and it's easy. Jamie Oliver's crispy delicious asparagus and potato tart.
I have to tell you, that it is with great hesitation that I post this. Goat has a major hate on for Jamie Oliver. It started years ago, and it's silly really. But I can't control Goat anymore than he can control his erratic emotions towards Jamie. I think it stemmed from my declaration of utter love for Jamie. That if we could just meet, we would fall madly in love and run away together. We'd garden, cook and make strawberry jam till dawn! Goat took this badly. He even tried speaking with a slight lisp for sometime. It was painful to endure and gratefully, it passed after three weeks.
ingredients:
1 pound of new potatoes
1 pound of asparagus
filo pastry
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup cheddar cheese
3 organic eggs
1 cup heavy cream
Thaw your filo over night or leave out on the counter for several hours on the day. Boil your potatoes till soft. I leave the skins on as they are new potatoes and add a texture, but the choice is yours. Mash the potatoes, add the cheese, stir together. Add the cream and eggs to the potato mixture - set aside.
Get a lasagna/casserole dish out and lay one sheet of parchment in it. Using a pastry brush, apply butter to the sheet. Keep layering your filo sheets, one at a time on top of each other, moving them about in a scattered pattern. You want them to hang over the edges of your dish - brushing on butter to each layer. I use about 10 sheets. Pour your filling into the filo dish. Blanch your asparagus in a pan, drain, then lay them on top of the potato filling. Done!
Place in the oven at 375 for 25 - 30 minutes. Let sit on counter for 10 minutes to settle before serving.

Voila! Super tasty dinner!
though not complete without a side of yam fries
slsice up one yam, soak in a bowl for as long as time will allow, drop in a zip lock bag with about 1/4 cup of cornstarch.  Shake well till all fries are coated.
layout on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and bake 400 for 15 minutes.
turn, bake for another 7-10 minutes.

But she does like 'dis'.
It's annoying when daddy takes her outside and stuffs her full of marshmallows before dinner. But look how sweet they are. How can I get mad.

Reno's and Happy Birds..


There has been a lot of this snacking action going on outside my windows this month. Birds loading up on Mountain Ash berries - getting ready for the winter.

And, while I'm mentioning my windows, I'll tell you that we just had new windows put in the house. Step one of the lower floor renovations!!

Ho Ho Ho ..It's Begun!

Lily, Grandma and I went to the cutest barn Christmas sale this past weekend. All things handmade, so happy and festive in the barn, and hot cider for all.

It`s been rather busy of late. Renovations have begun on the kitchen and great room. Soon, it will actually be a great room!


This jolly Santa and tiny deer came home with us from the barn festivities.

I`ll be sharing more on the renovations soon...

Happy Birthday Midge..

What does a magazine stylist do with a lot of time on her hands and stacks of tissue paper??? She goes crazy for her daughters second birthday. Having a birthday in November means no peonies, no roses, no happy garden parties festooned with bright, bold colours. As my dear friend Janis would say, that's bunk. So I brought it all inside.

It's still a fall palette, it just has a bit of pizazz!


I love that cheap bunches of coloured tissue can become dreamy floating pom poms. I have to thank Megan who pointed out this project to me on Martha Stewart. If you are tight on pennies, and boy, tell me who isn't, this is an awesome way to bedazzle your guests. You can make them as big or small as you like. For about two dollars each, these big boys I made filled the room.


My girl loves lady bugs. I made cupcake bugs and placed them all over the table. It looked like an invasion - but a pretty tasty one! Pom pom flowers filled the vases, and who can resist these wafer cookies. Didn't your granny have a package in her cupboard!


I thought I should go over some candle blowing strategies. Important in avoiding to many boyfriends at this age.
Step 1 - take a deep breath.

Step 2 - take an even deeper breath.
Step 3 - oh so gently... blow.

I should also mention that I've been interviewed by Natalie Walton way over in Australia. Natalie is the Deputy Editor of Real Living Magazine and has a fabulous blog 'daily imprint'. Check it out..Thanks Natalie.

Have You Seen..Missing Goat.com..

All the stories over all the years that I have worked on for magazines, including Oprah at Home, don't compare to the anxiety I have when trying to do my own thing. I could drive myself bonkers. I do drive myself bonkers. And everyone I know too. I've tortured my friend Janis, who patiently helps me and points out the obvious. The obvious which is not so obvious to me, till it's pointed out by her. Thank you dear friend.

All of that being said, my point to all of this is that Missing Goat website is now launched.

http://www.missinggoat.com/

have a peak, let me know what you think.


How They Grow..

They grow so fast. Last year, a flaming marshmallow, this year a lily pad.