{ healthy } Fall Deliciousness

With a chop, a boil and a blend,

I whipped up my new absolute favorite thing.

Maybe ever.

Who knew I liked butternut squash?

Not me!

Who knew one could make a creamy, delicious soup with NO dairy, gluten or sugar?

Not me!

Fortunately for me,

I have a wonderful nutritionist...

She loves creating healthy recipes and menus

like I love photos, paper and storytelling.

As she's inspired me

and taught me to re-think most everything in my life where food is concerned,

she's also become a dear friend.

With her encouragement,

I cooked up a large pot of this yummy soup on Monday ~

Served it with a side salad of spinach, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds ~

and had plenty left over for the week.

The soup stays fresh, well blended and re-heats really well!

I hope you enjoy Anna's Butternut Squash soup as much as I did!

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

- 32 ounces cut up butternut squash

- 16 ounces water or gluten free veggie stock

- 2 medium onions chopped

- 3/4 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 tsp nutmeg

- 2 TBS pure maple syrup

- Sea salt to taste

- *1/2 cup coconut milk

In a large pot over high heat combine squash broth/water, and onion  Cover and bring to a boil. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup. Allow to boil with cover off for 5 minutes. Put cover back on and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Check to see that veggies are fork tender. Working in batches, add half of contents into blender. In order to vent, remove the small top of the blender cover (it is a good idea to place a dish towel over opening to avoid a mess). Blend until smooth and creamy. Salt to taste. Place back into pot and simmer over low heat to re-warm.

*If you are feeling creative, you can add 1/2 cup coconut milk to soup once all pureed and back in pot warming.

{find more of Anna's gluten-free recipes here}

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday
and
Dream, Create, Inspire

Rest

I love this time of year. I love it for all the obvious reasons ~ that chill in the air. The splendor and the glory of the colors that come as the leaves change. I love the early morning fog. And the rainy afternoons. And that feeling that family gatherings and holidays are right around the corner.

But more than all that's exhilarating about this season, it is the shedding... the letting go...
that inspires me more than anything.

One petal, one leaf at a time... the earth prepares to rest.

I have an emotional list.
A physical list.
A spiritual list.
I have some letting go to do too...

Drawing strength from these petals...softly falling...one at a time,
I too will quietly take stock and allow myself to gently let go.
My spirit will lighten, I will catch the breeze...and I will rest.

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

Cathcing the light....

"The bird a nest, the spider a web,

man friendship."

William Blake

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

in between

"This strangely still pause

between summer and winter,

greenery and gold,

and the heat

and the rising wind

that is once again readying itself

to rush it all away in a climactic symphony

of color and scent is

{in my opinion}

one of the best parts of living on earth."

Victoria Erikson

Sharing the joys of this in between season with
Simple Things Sunday

Doubts?

Eyes open.
Hearts wide.
Listen.



Linking up with Saturday Critters and Simple Things Sunday

Wise Words

"Be a loner.

That gives you time to wonder,

to search for the truth.

Have holy curiosity.

Make your life worth living."

Albert Einstein

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

Family

It's as simple and as wonderful as that.

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

Magic

Sometimes a walk is just a walk.
But there are days -
moments -
when a walk is so very much more.
When stepping off the airplane is followed closely
by footsteps through a forest.
When that first hug after a year's absence is followed closely
by easy conversation
and a long wander to a waterfall...

When these ingredients are mixed all together
a walk is more than just a walk.
It's magic.

As July drew to a close, our Oregon adventure was just getting started. Soon after landing in Portland, we set off through a lush, mossy forest in search of a waterfall,  and this photo practically took itself. My heart was so full as I watched my husband fall easily into step with his parents. I know how much this time with them means to him....we are so richly blessed with family to cherish. With family that cherishes us in return. I may not have seen any fairies or leprechauns in this greener than green, fanciful forest....but I did feel the magic.

Joining Kat for

Photo Heart Connection

and

Rebecca for

Simple Things Sunday

yesterday's sunset

"The sky broke like an egg

into full sunset

and the water caught fire."

Pamela Hansford Johnson

Linking up with 

Simple Things Sunday

growth

these past few days

i've taken a step back

gotten out of my head

stepped away from 

all thoughts of goals

i've

trusted

the moment

trusted 

myself

and

lived the in between

Joining

simple things sunday

Saving Saturday

"It is the sweet, simple things of life

which are the real ones after all."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

After a long day...

full of errands and tasks and not-fun-stuff...

it was good to simply come home.

To stand on the deck 

under the late afternoon sun

and watch a robin nibble on some berries.

To cook up a delicious dinner...

...with the guy that makes everything feel all better agian.

And to watch the setting sun paint my little corner of the sky.

These are the simple things that saved my Saturday.

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

a pup, a pond...and a sunset

"We should run through the forests,

we should swim in the streams,

we should laugh,

we should cry,

we should love,

we should dream

we should stare at the stars

and not at the screen."
Scare Away the Dark ~ Passenger

Two hours in the fresh air,

on a perfect summer evening,

at the end of a work week....

with the cutest 'grandpuppy' on the planet 

and my husband!

Doesn't get any better than this!

Linking up with Song-ography, Simple Things Sunday and Practicing Simplicity