43|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014"

| Happy Halloween |

42|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014"

| queen of the leaves |

41|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014"

| thanksgiving 2014 |

40|52

" a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014" 

| dollface |

39|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014" 

| bathtime |

38|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014"

| enjoying the fall leaves |

37|52

"a portrait of Greta once a week every week in 2014"

| riding her new favourite toy |

36|52

"a portrait of Greta, once a week every week in 2014"

School has taken over and this project has been left in the dust, I don't want to abandon it all together as I have come so far - so as I know I have taken photos with my phone over the past month, I am using them to fill the gap and hope to pick up my big camera more often to complete the project. 

| waiting to go for a combine ride |

35|52

"A portrait of Greta, once a week, every week, in 2014"

| we have a walker! and she is pretty proud of herself! |

34|52

"A portrait a week, every week, in 2014"

| always checking over the shoulder |

33|52

"A portrait of Greta once a week, every week, in 2014"

| down back roads |

checking the bounty.

Tonight after supper Greta & I joined Matt on a crop tour to see how the fields look and how the wheat was ripening. Not only was it a great little family time (which I really needed) but it also was a great opportunity for some photos.

It is about to get really busy around as harvest is upon us (and I head back to school). Less time for Matt to spend with Greta and I, as this window of time calls for long nights and many hours. Even though it is not our farm, as Matt is a farm manger for a local farmer, and the overall bounty doesn't make or break us at the end of the year - I still understand and support this busy time. I grew up on a farm, I see the passion and heart my husband puts into his job, and I understand what it takes. I hope to instill this passion and understanding in Greta. For her to know the land, understand the process, and see the hard - and important work her father is apart of.  It's her roots and maybe even her own future if that is what she desires. We may raise a doctor, an accountant, or a farmer - either way I hope she will always appreciate this bounty.

I really could go on and on with these! But I'll stop! After this one, 'cause common - look at these three!

32|52

"A portrait of Greta, once a week, every week, in 2014"

| a little girl in true form |

31|52

" a portrait of Greta, once a week, every week in 2014"

| little beach babe |

Saskatoon Skillet Pie

Saskatoon Skillet Pie

1 pie crust recipe ( I use this one - make ahead)

4 cup saskatoon berries (or any berry you want!)

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp lemon juice

Lightly butter cast iron skillet.

Roll out pie dough to the size of your skillet, drape over and gently press into skillet leaving an inch overhang.

Gently toss berries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice.

Add berry mixture to the skillet.

Fold the overhanging pie crust over the berries.

Maple Crumble

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup flour

1/2 brown sugar 

6 tbsp cold butter

2 tbsp maple syrup

Combine oatmeal, flour, and sugar. Cut in butter with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly and then stir in maple syrup.

Top pie with crumble. Bake in oven at 375F for 50-60 min.

Enjoy (with ice cream)!

Currently. {13}

Hey there! It's been awhile since I linked up with a Currently post, so I thought that today might be a good day to do so.

First off - currently my whole state of being is perfectly described by this picture. It represents my mind, which seems to have so many thoughts thrashing through it lately that are relentless and are wearing me down. From my adequacy of a mother - to my ability to successfully return to school and to succeed. My mind races with questions and worries with no avail and no answers. It represents my heart, which rushes with emotions. Love so strong for my family yet sprigs of pain when I leave Greta at daycare, and a mix of passion with despair when I think about my return to school. Lastly, it represents my body, as these thoughts and emotions are begin to wear me down for the inside out, waking tired and achy from a less than adequate sleep with a body that I feel for some reason is beginning to fail on me -- even before it has endured the stress of the year that is to come. I want these waves to recede, so there is clarity and calm, where I can see the horizon and know that the destination I am headed for is the right one.

On top of all of that I am also:

thinking about | my social media usage time. It is embarrassing the time I've been spending on social media lately, especially when it is a time I should be savouring my moments with Greta, and it's not even constructive use of time or conscious either, it's merely aimless scrolling, a way to occupy time or maybe to escape my aforementioned thoughts. Yes, I believe that is it. An escape, but a horrible one. Where I am looking at or reading about the moments I should be having, instead of removing the distraction and doing them on my own. An escape, where I can portray my life as what I want others to know, instead of the chaotic waves that make me feel like I'm drowning in my own thoughts. It's time to stop. Put down the phone. Enjoy my last month at home, to guide myself through these thoughts, and prepare for my future.

reading | Love Anthony by Lisa Genova. I just started it but have heard nothing but good reviews and the first few chapters have sucked me in. Maybe reading is a better escape anyways.

watching | pinterest for recipes. Of all social media this might be constructive use of my time as I scour for freezer casseroles & crockpot meals to prepare on the days Greta is at daycare to have a supply of healthy meals as the days get busy with school papers and exams.

listening to | Lennon & Maisy Stella.  These girls voices and harmony are amazing, just love listening to them. Here is a song that I'm loving:

thankful for | just what the song say: a life that's good. Even though I am feeling overwhelmed, I know that it will all work out because I already have more than I should:

| "two arms around me, heaven to ground me, 

and a family that always calls me home,

four wheels to get there, enough love to share" |

This sweet song is a good reminder. It WILL be ok, that calm WILL come as writing and sharing this helps.

linking up with: 

A Day at the Lake

We headed out to my great aunt & cousin's cottage yesterday with Greta for a visit & dog play date. My cousin also has a German Shorthair Pointer so we thought it would be fun to have them play together - although it didn't go great as Milka is in heat, hence why you won't see a photo of the two of them together.

Anyways, we had a great time. The wind was strong meaning the waves were high, so Greta didn't actually go too much into the lake - so we brought the lake to her in a tub on the beach where she splish and slashed, while Mommy got a sunburn while drinking wine.

30|52

" a portrait of Greta once a week, every week in 2014"

| "berry" messy |

Road Trip to Alberta

We survived! This was not our first road trip with Greta (we did one in Germany) but it was by far the longest consecutive time she has had to spend in the car.  Our destination for our road trip was Edmonton, Alberta to attend my cousins wedding. It is a 16 hour drive to go straight there, but as we had Greta we spanned it across a couple days and decided to explore parts of Saskatchewan & Alberta along the way. (I say we survived, but if you ask Matt - he says the next one won't be for 10 years -- I don't think it went that poorly...I'll convince him to try it again sooner than later ;) haha)

Our first day, took us across southern Manitoba (we decided to take a more scenic route than the Trans-Canada Hwy) through some small towns and the rolling hills of Manitoba, the Pembina Valley and into southeastern Saskatchewan. We spent our first night around mid-Saskatchewan in Moose Jaw.

We headed out early the next morning and continued west towards the Saskatchewan-Alberta border where we headed a bit south into Cypress Hill Interprovincial Park - which was absolutely beautiful!  We also visited a little prairie winery where we ate lunch, sampled wine, and toured their small, and still establishing vineyard. Very interesting to see something a little different that was not in wine country! A little miss guided driver (myself) took a longer drive through the park than we were suppose to so we arrived later in the afternoon into Alberta, so we rested a bit in Medicine Hat before checking out Dinosaur Provincial Park and spending the night a few hours from our next destination of Drumheller.

our attempt at dinosaur attack = fail

The next morning we headed to Drumheller, AB. My parents met us there (as they were also on a road trio to the wedding, and our paths crossed) and toured around the Royal Tyrell Museum with us and we took them up on the offer of spending the night in their RV - saving us on a few meals & hotel stays!

The following day we headed to Edmonton. We visited the West Edmonton Mall and did some shopping before heading to visit with family and wedding-ing the following day.

We attempted to do the drive home in one day but as we neared the 10 hour mark in the car, with 4 hours left to go, Greta was not a happy camper any longer. So we stopped and spent one more night in a hotel before we continued our trek home the following morning. I don't blame her -- I needed to get out of the car as well. I'd say it was a great trip - we seen so much, spent time with family, and Greta did incredibly well for the amount of time spent in the car - plus the extended amount of time in the car has made her want to spend some more time on her feet which may mean we may have a walker in just a short while!