i heart fall.

It's fall! I love the fall. I missed fall for the last two years and I am determined to soak up every single golden, spiced, pumpkiny, crisp, cozy second of this fall. Because yes. To all the colours.

We went up north to "cottage country" this past weekend for a student retreat. Every year I go and every year I'm so glad I did. I get a little less sleep, but my soul can just breathe when I'm there.
The boys happily frolicked {such a good word!} outside, running around the mini golf course, building castles in the sand and even swimming with their clothes on. At the end of September. In a lake.

Because why not?

I made some delicious Pumpkin Spice syrup for my coffee and have been enjoying the poor man's version of a PSL in the comfort of my own home {for a fraction of the cost!}. Easy, cheap and delicious. Directions here. 

Glory hallelujah.

Yesterday I went to a pumpkin farm nearby with my Mom and brother and his girlfriend. It was lovely. And pumpkiny!

How weird is it that I've been back in Canada for three months now?
I still feel like I haven't really processed the last two years. I still miss friends {both here in Canada and abroad}. I still don't feel like I have a handle on day-to-day life and being a "school Mom". I still don't feel like I quite fit in here.
But that's okay. In the same way that it seems like my house is going to take a really long time to be in a place where I'm happy with it, my heart is also taking a really long time to sort itself out.

And with that...we head into one of the craziest times of the year; weddings, Thanksgiving, birthdays and Christmas. Jesus hold me.

Ginger Snaps

what does one do after sleeping off a massive migraine?
make ginger snaps, of course!

i got this recipe from my delightful friend, kelly. i think she got it from her mom. moms' recipes are the bomb.

here's the snappiest of ginger snaps:
3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar (i actually found some here!)
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses (called black treacle here)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cup flour

cream the butter, brown sugar, egg, molasses & vanilla. this is much easier done with a blender or mixer than by hand, but very doable by hand, let me tell you.
add in your spices.
blend in the flour.
roll cookies into little balls - i made mine just shy of a tablespoon each but feel free to make yours however big or small you prefer.
then roll in some white sugar.

yum.

then bake for 9-12 minutes at 375F.
now, my oven is a gas oven and has no temperature gauge. at all. so i guesstimate for the temperatures. so mine baked at 7 minutes and were perfect.
also, it could just be my Ugandan-bought baking sheets, but a little baking spray helped to get them off (as the first batch stuck to my sheet). it also helps to remove them right away onto a baking rack.

(this was the batch that stuck. but a picture and a hug from jamie in the kitchen was worth it. don't they look perfect?)

if these don't say fall/winter i'm not sure what does.
make sure to nom on these with a nice warm cup of tea.

or just nom. either way.