30 Days of Thanks

I've been posting daily thanks on my personal Facebook page this November.  Since that page isn't public (but this one is!) I thought I'd document them here, too.  There is an abundance of things to be grateful for, and just like documenting the little things, writing them down helps keep my heart full of gratitude and happiness.

Day 1.  I'm thankful for my handyman. ♥ He can fix just about anything and it sure makes life easier.
Day 2.  I am thankful for and love my spiritual mentor. She sends me home with pocketfuls of wisdom and hope each time we meet.
Day 3.  I'm thankful for the majority of the year that we aren't sick! The flu is no fun.
Day 4.  I'm thankful for my brothers and sisters on both sides. Everything is way more fun family-style!
Day 5.  I'm thankful for friends. The ones that I've bonded with over country living, English essays, blogging, getting fit and The Word; those I've known since the second grade, the ones who saw me through the college years, the ones who now teach and celebrate my own children and me theirs, the ones across the country, in another state, those hours away, and the ones down the street. I'm even thankful for the friend who is crashing on my couch tonight for his bi-annual month-or-two-long visit (you never know with him). Friends--you are grand!
Day 6.  I'm thankful that the election is over.
Day 7.  I'm thankful for sun breaks on rainy days.
Day 8.  I'm thankful for Crossfit workouts that push my "limits" mentally and physically.

Have you been documenting 30 days of thanks? If you have a link, please share!

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Schmidt's Super Awesome Chili

Like many of you, I believe soups, stews and chili are one of the perks of fall and winter.  And today, as the rain fell for the first time in months, and with my pumpkin spice candle lit, all I could think about was warm drinks, meals, baking...

and curling up on the couch to read. 

But now, let's talk chili.  Oh, boy.  There's chili and then there's chili!

Sure, there's canned chili, boxed chili, throw-yourself-together-an-almost-chili, so on and so on.  Then there's chili that'll knock your socks off and you'll never go back.  

Why would you?

Let's talk details.

Schmidt's Super Awesome Chili 

Throw a party; it's that good.

 Side note: This recipe came to me after a night out in Portland with the girls, and it was the best late-night meal, a girl could stumble upon.  My friend, Shannon and her Husband have given me kind permission to pass along their recipe.  Thus, the recipe has taken on a surname. 

And trust me, the "Super Awesome" bit is for real.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons of oil (or whatever to cover the bottom of your pot)

2 onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1- 1 1/4 lb. lean ground beef or turkey

1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 can dark beer

1 cup strong coffee

2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste

1 can beef broth

1/2 C. brown sugar

3 1/2 tsp. chili sauce (I used 1 tsp. and it was spicy.  Careful with this stuff!)

1 Tbsp. cumin

1 Tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. coriander

1 tsp. salt

4 (15 oz.) cans kidney beans

1 chili pepper, chopped (I omitted for the little ones)

Directions:

1.  Heat oil.

2.  Cook onions, garlic and meat until brown.

3.  Add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth.

4.  Add spices, stir in 2 cans of kidney beans and pepper.

5.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

6.  Add 2 remaining cans of kidney beans and simmer for another 30 minutes.

A few of my notes:

• It will be soupier than the picture shows (these photos were taken on day 2).
• Follow the directions.
• Let it simmer for the full two hours.  It'll meld the flavors deliciously.
• Top with cheese and sour cream/Greek yogurt and cilantro if your heart desires.
• Serve with your tastiest cornbread/corn muffin recipe.
• Enjoy!  

Afternoon at the Camas Farmer's Market

 Yesterday, the kids and I and my friend, Shannon, and her little boy, hit up the one of the last Camas Farmer's markets of the season.  The wind was something fierce yesterday, but it was neat to be downtown, clad scarf, in the early October sun rays, enjoying the last of the season's harvest.  The kids ran, rolled and laid all over the grass and completed a vegetable scavenger hunt.  You know you've done something right when your kids don't throw a fit when you say no to the sweet cart, and beg you to go into the library.  Children after their mama's own heart!

The city is beginning to glow and crisp, while not a drop of rain has hit this Evergreen State in over a month.  I think most of us locals are pinching ourselves!  Speaking of locals--I love being a local to my town.  I love our little city, our downtown, the post office man who has been standing at the same desk for over thirty years, the locally owned market, coffee shop and burger joint.  If only these things and more would never change. 

We've got a gem of a little city on our hands.

you're a hard act to follow.

Dear September,

Just when you'd settled in nice, with your waves of fall heat, sunflower beams and an abundant apple tree harvest, you've gone and passed the bounty to October.  Thanks for the birthday, I'm very much enjoying being thirty!  I didn't know what fun it was wearing red lipstick until that 12th day, and I definitely never gave myself an excuse to wear cobalt blue and yellow platforms until then!  And thanks for giving us a near-solid month to wear flip-flops, to teach a six year old to ride her bike without training wheels, to enjoy blackberries while waiting for the school bus, and to not have to worry about frizzed-out hair due to the northwest drizzle.  Seriously.

Husband would like to thank you for giving me my groove back. 
He's happy to be eating regularly again.  

Since the temperature has lost its scorch, I've cooked up an old favorite a couple of times and we've been inserting zucchini and soon-to-be pumpkin into everything we can get our hands on.  You make us do things like that.  Speaking of pumpkin--pumpkin spice lattes are back into full effect and we've again made our pumpkin spice Yankee candle part of the family.

You've made quite the perfect segue for October.

Bring on the leaves, cool mornings and that smokey October air to settle us in.  I've got sweaters waiting, boots I've been eyeing, crafts and recipes to whip up, 

all in your name, October!

Instagrams from the past weekend:

Find me on Instagram!  User name: cbmccully

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Mountainscapes and The Pacific Crest Trail

Family adventures are the best kind.  Last weekend, we headed up the Gorge and into the mountains for what we thought would be one final berry picking.  Instead, we spent most of the late afternoon driving 10+ miles way high, high up into the wilderness, where not another soul was seen, and where the sights were simply majestic.  It's quite the experience to find you and your family in the midst of such beauty, undisturbed. It's as if those mountains and trees were ours to swallow up once we arrived...

Seems God waits on us to arrive in such places--the places where words are scarce, and flip-flops will do, even if you do find yourself on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time in your life.  And the berries that you thought you went for wont be there, and the six large bowls you have in the back of the car are laughable.  But instead of bowls overflowing with huckleberries, blueberries and raspberries, His glory fills the air and falls over the mountainscape, as every tree glows in its early fall turning, and silence crashes across the land.  This is what we came for.  These are the moments that fill us up, bring healing and re-prioritize our lives.

Ten Minutes Ago...

I nearly stomped my feet when Husband asked me to go outside, in the near freezing weather, to take pictures of the firewood to put on Craigslist.  In the horse corral, nonetheless.  I contemplated the quick trip in my Havana sandals then reconsidered, and I'm glad I did. 

Turns out the moments in the cold,

thick-treed horse corral, photographing firewood, can be nice.

A lovely Tuesday to you.

xx

P.S.  I haven't introduced you to the horses!  Soon, I promise. 

This morning, they are on the other side of the property in their winter stalls.

P.P.S. Yes, the firewood is for sale. 

Shoot me an email if you're in the area and are in need.

children do that.

It rained a lot today,

but the sun shone in my soul.

today's loves:

the shops on Hawthorne.

an entire double sided 6x3 foot display of ribbon.

a coffee shop with Powell's books attached.

a steaming cup of joe.

my Asher in all of his glory.

my dear friend,

and quite possibly,

our last coffee-shop-rendezvous

before her life becomes fuller than she could ever imagine,

and bestows upon her huge heapings of love

that will never cease.

It's the sort of love that makes your heart so full,

that it flows over,

changing the way you see everything else.

enormous. unconditional, compassion-seeping. love.

yard disasters and an owl recovery.

Monday was rather adventurous. 

Upon returning home from the gym, I decided I would take care of a few small tasks that had been lingering about since before Husband's departure, and since the neighbor boy flaked on me, again.  I felt there was no choice but to take matters into my own hands.

You see, Husband made it quite clear in our early stages of marriage that he did not care for yard work. In fact, I've had to haul many a things out of the yard that were not meant to be "yard ornaments."  I'm just not that type.  Heavens, my Father earned himself a Vancouver Sparkles Award for his yard manicuring skills,  {Dad, where's your t-shirt?} so anything that doesn't grow with soil should not. be. in. the. yard.

period. period. PERIOD!!

Besides the attempted yard ornaments, i.e. the old toilet from the remodel, my creme brulee torch, and various tools that I've since removed and stowed away in the appropriate vicinity.  Husband is not much into mowing the lawn, either.  He blames it on his allergies. 

You see Husband is quite smart. 

{Point A} The minute he received the yard maintenance flier earlier this year, he picked up his phone and hired out our 1/48th of an acre worth of grass to the neighbor boy.  It takes the boy six minutes to compete the task, including picking up all of rocks that Asher has launched from the rock bed into the grass.  Although our lawn rates a one for simplicity, I believe the easy task has become a waste of time for the boy, because he has left me hanging for his services a handful of times recently. 

Hence, me saying, I took matters into my own hands.

{Point B} There was logic when Husband bought a $10 mower, I know it.  Something like...the older you buy, the sooner you can quit mowing.  During the summer, our lawn went almost completely dead.  I was embarrassed and hurt for our neighbors.  I finally talked Husband into buying fertilizer and a portable sprinkler to water.  "Don't you want green grass?" I asked him.  "No. Cause then I have to mow it!" 

It was then that I realized that we may never see eye to eye on yard maintenance. 

Throwing out all excuses, I decided to take care of business myself.  After waiting for all the neighbors outside to leave the neighborhood and/or go back into their homes, I attempted to start up the $10 mower, with Asher looking on.  Of course, I did so on the concrete between the garage and the car, so no one could see me attempt to start the piece.  Maybe it didn't start for me because I was on the concrete and it would have killed me, I don't know?  But I pulled and pulled to no avail.  Then I did a quick double-pull with no success.  After a few more tries, I gave up feeling like a fool, feeling insecure that even one person may have seen me trying to mow my lawn for the first time...with no avail. 

Then my kind neighbor pulled up.  She is a lawn-mowing maniac.  That woman works her yard to the max.  I knew she'd have a decent lawn-mower for me to borrow, and would probably jump at the chance to help me help my yard.  And she did.  I had to call her over to find out why it wasn't starting, but I quickly learned that you even have to pull start the new mowers.  I felt like an idiot.  C'mon.  We can push a button for just about everything else nowadays.  I think she knew I felt like an idiot.  She was kind and let me mow our small patch of grass, and now I feel like I'm keeping up with the Jones' {yard crew}.

Once I had the grass taken care of, I opened the scary garage.  Husband informed me before he left to hunt, that he saw a large mouse in the garage.  Feeling overwhelmingly determined, I lost all train of mouse- thoughts and opened the garage to let the sun shine in, and {hopefully} the mouse creep out.

I then found myself the latter, and settled it up against the shelves to begin my search.  To my surprise, one of the first boxes I laid eyes on was exactly what I was looking for. 

Remember that fine owl collection?  Here is what I recovered:

a mini owl family

 A few kooks



this sweet yellow owl

and a couple more.

I am so happy to have found this bunch!

I'm especially excited to have a collection!

And after the baby shower that I attended last Sunday,

you'll see why I think collecting owls is so darn fun!

{Look for the cutest owl shower post on Friday.}

As for the yard dilemma, for now it is solved and mowed.

We are all thrilled,

and can't wait to show Dad.

Reader Love/Giveaway 3!

Welcome back!

I've finally finished round one of my

Fall line
of book marks.

This series of book marks has been the most fun for me. 

It's most likely because I am fall.

I was born in the fall--September

Started my blog in the fall-October

Married in the fall-November

I love sweaters in the fall,

scarves, boots, hot drinks, pumpkin spice treats,

and walks on cool, crisp, fall days.

I heart the fall.  Big time.

 It is the best time of year, wouldn't you agree?

While visiting my sis in Montana last month, we went bead hunting.  After coaxing my sister's husband into watching six children (including my two) we made our way into the city to explore the bead shop of downtown Missoula.  My sis, Tammy is quite the shopper, and she has one keen eye.  She helped me swoop up some lovely pieces.  Let's just say I spent a nice chunk of change on some fall-esque beads and charms, and didn't regret a penny spent.  How could I?  During our shopping hunt and upon return home, we got quite the kick out of talking about my "Fall line."  Either this is quite funny to you, too, or it's a Davis thing.  Must be a Davis thing. 

I can't believe I'm writing about this.

We also laughed quite a bit that day when my brother-in-law called my two-year-old a "human recking ball." 

I, obviously, received this statement in the form of a compliment. 

He ain't easy.

Go here for more evidence.

I felt understood!

Someone felt my pain!

(Husband does too, but he's Husband, and his type doesn't always realize the reality.)

I'll tell you more about yesterday morning when I woke up to the fumes of hot pink nail polish on my bedsheets and slathered all over Asher's toes, which somehow managed up his neck and in his hair--another time. 

I'm still working through that one.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!

But first, I'd like to say thank you!

I love exchanging with my readers and getting to know you better.

Thanks for helping me celebrate three years of blogging!

You truly make my blogging experience worth while.

I love this book mark.

I love the filigree, the crushed chocolate ribbon, the unique antiqued copper clamps,

and the gold brushed teal leaf.

 It will make you sigh each time you close your book.

There are three ways to enter this giveaway*:

1) You MUST be a follower. (Stickler, I know.  Reader-Love.)

2) Leave me a comment telling me your favorite things about fall.

3) Re-blog this giveaway and let me know you've done so.

*Remember--each entry must have its own comment.

Giveaway closes Monday, October 11th at 11:59pm

{This giveaway has closed. Thanks!}

The "Fall Line" will be in the shop Monday!

p.s. My check out my Sis's giveaway.  I want it!

a bunch of hoots

The previous owners of our first house,

had an owl collection

tucked away in the attic.

It was an interesting bunch of owls that we came across...

hand carved owls,

an owl candle, glass owls, white ceramic owls

with red eyes, all sorts of owl knick knacks.

I considered keeping the set,

but in its entirety it was about 20-25 pieces,

and to put it frank--

some of them scared me

and/or

were a far stretch

in resembling an owl.

However, I believe I ended up keeping 6-8 of them.

If I can locate them in my garage would you like to see

this fine collection?

I'll consider searching.

These owls here,

are my type of owls.

this owl is inspiration.

he welcomes life

in a soar with wide-open wings,

breathing and hooting

ditties of rhythm to what would otherwise be

redundant, dreary-old owl tales.

his sound enlivens the soul;

while

his presence radiates infectious warmth

during long fall nights.

this owl is wise,

cautious and methodical.

he embraces truth where others slander,

and feels the aching pains and triumphs of tomorrow.

he's a philosopher,

an author of his life;

inviting others to see for themselves.

"think," he encourages.

"think," and

"find your own truth."

he may be smaller than the others, but

 this owl is destined to lead.

he strives for the unthinkable,

believing in the

treasure that lie ahead.

Others heed his message;

he's of noble and true character.

Eventually, after many moons,

his wingspan will surpass his

companions,

and they'll look to him to do it all--

inspire.

lead.

and give

wisdom.

These treasures are for the wise.

You are wise.

They'll be in the shop at 9am tomorrow!
UPDATE: they are in the shop
and one of them is featured here!

Unfortunately, the big news will have to wait until tomorrow, too.