Fairy Homes

As you already know, breakfast happens to be my most favorite meal of the day! So on mornings when we awake to sunshine steaming through the barn windows, we know a special breakfast is in order...

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The other morning we woke up early and prepared one of our favorite breakfast treats: Baked Oatmeal. Quinn and I met each other out at out local church camp - Echo Ranch Bible Camp - when Quinn was 18 and I was 21. We both have very fond memories of attending the church camp when we were younger, the games, and chapel services, and of course the camp food! Baked Oatmeal was always one of the morning dishes, and it's hard not to get nostalgic when we make it. 

Greta likes Baked Oatmeal too!

I'll include the recipe we used at the bottom of this post, an Amish recipe we've used before and loved a lot. I always add a bit (well, more than a bit) of brown sugar to the top of it as the extra sweetness makes it taste just like the oatmeal we had out at Echo Ranch. 

While we ate our oatmeal in the sunshine, the apple blossoms waved in the breezes and the sound of bumblebees was heard softly going from branch to branch. Soon the trees will be laden with green apples, and I'm already planning the pies and apple sauces I'll be making come the end of summer...I'm also hoping to learn canning so I can can some for the winter months.

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After such a nice breakfast, it stands to reason that the rest of the day would be just as nice. We took Greta on one of our favorite walks called the Outer Point trail. I took my trug along and we gathered interesting finds to make fairy houses with.

Ever since I was young, I have loved the idea of little people with wings. My favorite movie to watch as child was Thumbelina, and as a girl my sister and I would make fairy homes among the trees and bushes of our backyard.

I am also not ashamed to admit that I still sing songs from the Thumbelina movie...usually when my husband is around (I try to make him sing the Prince's parts. Key work: TRY).

Sadly, he didn't watch it as many times as I did as a child. Don't worry though, I'll make him learn it!

Even though Quinn wont sing 'Let me be your wings" with me, he was still up for making fairy houses. They turned out darling, though Greta was a bit sad she didn't fit inside either of them.

Quinn's home had a lovely deck overlooking the ocean. It was built from sticks in a tepee fashion and decorated with woven grass. On the inside he had a couch and bed of moss all ready for a new inhabitant.

 Mine had flat rocks for walls and bark for the roof. It was built up against a cliff with a ladder from the top leading up to a garden of buttercups where a bench sat. On the side of the house was a shed for firewood and a swing made from old man's beard. A big shell served as a comfy bed on the inside.

Making fairy homes made me feel just like a kid again! I encourage you to try it for an afternoon, if nothing else as a reason to get outside and use some creativity. Let me know if you do, and send me pictures of your mini homes!

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Amish Baked Oatmeal

Adapted from Mostly Homemade Mom

1/2 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons oil 1 3/4 cups quick-cooking oats 1/3 cup brown sugar Chocolate chips (optional)
1.) In a medium sized mixing bowl, beat egg. Add all ingredients except oats and mix thoroughly until well combined. 
2.) Add oats and stir. Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish and sprinkle brown sugar over top. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
3.) Once finished, and while still hot, add chocolate chips. Serve warm plain or in a bowl with cold milk poured over the top. Enjoy!

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By Land & By Sea

The bee is not afraid of me,
I know the butterfly;
The pretty people in the woods
Receive me cordially.
The brooks laugh louder when I come,
The breezes madder play.
Werefore, mine eyes, thy silver mists?
Werefore, O summer's day.

By Emily Dickinson

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It's not yet summer here in Juneau, but a recent warm sunny day
made me think it was! It was so nice outside that it seemed a crime to stay cooped up indoors, so off Greta and I went on a walk!

I must admit, the trail leading down to the beach was extra muddy from all the rain we've had and my boot was almost swallowed whole by a puddle. But thankfully we made it through unscathed, though Greta was certainly looking more brown and black than white and black...

I took my trug down with me in the hopes that some early wild flowers would be growing, and to my excitement there were! I picked a whole basket full, with even some very early purple lupin finding its way in. I had to be careful with my trug though, Greta kept eating my flowers!

 Sunny days in Juneau are surely something special. 

The mountains are a deep blue, the ocean flats are just starting to break forth into their green spring coat, and wild corgis roam free!

I think Greta was having a little too much fun down on the flats. She was covered in mud when we got back to the house! But it wasn't the right time to give her a bath, because we had something extra fun planned for that afternoon...

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Later that day we decided to take the family boat out for it's first maiden voyage of the year! My father-in-law Paul had been working hours and hours to get the boat all ready. Painting and fixing and more painting! But once we got in the boat and started flying through the water in the sunshine he said, "It's all worth it." and we all agreed with him!

This was Greta's first time in a boat out at sea. We're not quiet sure how she liked it because she wanted to sleep for most of the time. Quinn thinks it's just like riding in the car for her {"Except with more room and lost of fresh air", he explained}. He's probably right, but she sure did have fun helping dad drive the boat!

Can you say "Awwwwwwwwww!"

I simply can't get over how cute she is...

(unless she's digging up mom's garden, then I forget really quick!)

We did have a mission on this first boat trip: Melissa had instructed us all to bring back some flat rocks for the garden paths she has planned. Someday soon we'll be able to frolic barefoot on pretty paths all through the yard!

I do believe it was Greta who first saw the beach covered in flat rocks, sounding off with a happy bark as she looked out the window.

Yep, those rocks look perfect for pretty garden paths!
Though...maybe a bit too big for the boat?

Even though there were five of us {plus a puppy} in the boat, we were still able to load up several big rocks to take home to mother - making her very happy indeed!

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 Don't be fooled by Laura wearing a heavy coat and winter hat in this photo. It was gloriously warm out! 

She was recently down in California and I think she got spoiled by the heat there. 

Abigail picked some lovely Forget-Me-Knots on the beach.

From Emily's poetry book:
Purple and blue, 
forever true, 
to only you, 
my love.

Hopefully the forget-me-knots will help us to remember the wonderful day we had, and the breathtaking views we saw on the long way home:

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Something In The Woodshed

My parents knew something was terribly wrong with me when the first poem I ever sat down and tried to memorize (as a 12 year old waiting for her siblings to finish soccer practice) was "Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson. 

Of course, seeing my name on a book on my parent's dusty bookshelves got me curious and I took it down and started reading it. I instantly fell in love with Emily and her writing and I have taken that love and written my own poems since middle school. 

I wrote this poem off of the absurd idea (I get a lot of those) that something was in my in-law's woodshed. Nothing was of course -- except some spiders -- but the romantic idea stuck with me. So here you are, a silly poem about a silly idea that my sister Abigail and I had quite a lot of fun acting out. I hope you enjoy it!

Something In The Woodshed

A poem by Emily Zahasky

"There's something in the woodshed!" my sister whispered loud.
"Something shining brightly, and that something must be found!"

It was very dark that evening, we had both been in our beds.
But that something woke my sister, and she got it in her head
that the something must be captured for it twinkled and it shown.
And our bedroom window glimmered like a single star alone.

So out from under quilts and covers we both flew to the door,
Down the stairs we hurried and across the kitchen floor.
We grabbed our shawls and wellies and from the door we stole a peak...
But the yard was black and lightless all the way down to the street.

So through the grass we tiptoed, the woodshed now in sight
And we thought we heard a tinkling echo through the silent night.
And as we neared the woodshed a glimmer warm and clear
Cut through all the darkness, and filled us both with fear!

But then the music started and it sounded so divine

That we both looked in the woodshed, and the something we did find!

Between the logs and firewood, upon the woodshed floor
A shining parade of fairies were flying through the door.
And in a circle full of light they danced all to and fro,
While my sister and I sat and pondered if we should stay or go.

The sight was truly lovely, but we felt so out of place:
Wearing our silly nightgowns (most certainly a disgrace!).
But the fairies looked so friendly and so gloriously attired,
That we joined and danced the night away, until we both were tired.

The next morning dawned bright and sunny when we awoke within our beds,
Not remembering sleep nor slumber, though fairies danced in our heads.
The woodshed looked quite boring when we saw it again by day,
And our parents didn't believe that we'd danced the night away.

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Mother's Day Dinner

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

My mother is far away on an island in Washington, but my mother-in-law is right next door! I feel so blessed to have two amazing moms to counsel and guide me in life, and to inspire me in new crafty adventures (as they are both very crafty)!

For my dear mother who is here in Juneau, the family all decided to throw a Mother's Day dinner out on the back porch of their home. My sisters and I ran around half the afternoon in a mad dash to decorate and prepare the table, while back in my oven a beautiful lavender shortbread baked for dessert!

Laura was in charge of candles, Abigail set out the plates and ironed the table cloths, and I hung bunting and a big gauzy tent to crown where mom would sit. Meanwhile, dad and Quinn were both working away in the kitchen. 

Of course, everyone had to pass around the puppy...

But I don't think Greta minded one bit!






Even Laura's parrot Xochie (pronounced So-chee) came out on the back porch for a while!

The afternoon was beautiful, but a tad-bit chilly. We're Alaskans though, so that didn't stop us!

The wind was a bit hard to deal with though...

I think mom was very surprised as she came through the door to see everything. She said it looked absolutely breathtaking and she felt like a Queen! 

The food was wonderful and there were lots of laughs shared around the table (mostly made by Quinn), but once it was time for dessert Mom asked if we could go inside since it was a bit chilly and everyone agreed (yes we're Alaskans, but we can get cold too)! 

Dad went in and started a lovely fire, and sitting around it we watched mom open her cards and presents. Abigail had painted a picture for her, and she loved the table runner Quinn and I had made.

After presents, Abigail and I cut the lavender shortbread and as we were mid-slice Mom called, "Quinn! Get a picture of them! They both look so beautiful!" So though this next picture may looked staged, I can promise you we were right in the middle of serving everyone when he took it!

I love to make shortbread, but I had never tried the lavender recipe before. I must admit, I was a bit nervous it would come out tasting like soap or perfume, but it was absolutely delicious! I will be making it again soon! If you'd like to try out the recipe I'll write it down below!

Everyone stayed up late into the night playing a hilarious round of Monopoly (where eventually those who didn't get bored and quit were left quarreling over who got the spoils from the leaving players).


I think Mom felt very loved, and to top it all off we got a beautiful sunset too.

Quinn was still in the middle of his Monopoly game when the colors of sunset were shining in all of their glory, so I begged him to come outside and take a photo of me. I'm lucky, because he said he would!

The dress I'm wearing is one I saved up for for quite a long time!
It was custom made for me at Heritage Dress Makers over on Etsy.

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Lavender Shortbread

Adapted from Sweet Little Kitchen

1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons dried lavender

1 cup butter {room temperature}

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1.) In a large bowl, mix powdered sugar and lavender. Add butter to bowl and use a hand mixer to cream the mixture. 

2.) Add flour and salt slowly, mixing gently to combine.

3.) Press mixture into greased pie pan or shortbread mold pan. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before trying to remove shortbread from pan. Serve with a simple glaze of milk and powdered sugar and a sprinkling of dried lavender flowers. 

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