The Drama of Change

Doing what you like is freedom...Liking what you do is happiness.

Dear Yoga Booty,

Hmmm...this pleasant Sunday morning, the house is quiet, the birds are singing outside the kitchen window, and Apollo is actually stretched out looking like the Estate dog he's intended to be.  Typically this would be an ideal moment to roll out the Yoga mat and find some glorious union between body and mind.  However, mastering the ideal "pumpkin loaf" beckons equally as strong.  I mean it's like Starbucks is taunting me!  Everywhere I turn I see the signs, "Pumpkin Spice Latte Returns".  It's that time of year again, friends.  You know, when you can get a Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf and a Pumpkin Latte for breakfast, and then later that night wind down the evening with Blue Moon's Pumpkin Ale.  I LOVE the fall!!!
So the real question I must ask myself this morning is this, "Sarah Lyn, which is more important to you??  Are you gonna go for a 'yoga booty' or a 'pumpkin loaf/latte/ale-harvest comfort kinda booty'???"
Hmmm....
cinnamon...
nutmeg...
clove...
I can yoga tomorrow!

Recipe Attempt #1
1Preheat oven to 350 F.
2Butter and flour two 9x5x3 loaf pans or muffin tins.
3Beat sugar and oil in a large bowl to blend.
4Mix in eggs and pumpkin.
5Sift four, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and baking powder into another large bowl.
6Stir into pumpkin mixture in 2 additions.
7Divide batter equally among prepared pans (muffin tins).
8Bake until tester comes out clean, about 1 hour for loaves, 20 min for muffins.
9Transfer to cooling racks and cool for 10 minutes.
10Turn out onto racks and cool completely.Gather Up:


1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup pumpkin puree
¾ cup canola oil
¼ cup chopped pumpkin seeds, optional

(Recipe #1 was a success!  Anne and Charlotte are fans, too.  Baking and good friends go together like peas and carrots, or  Ford and Chevy!)

Bridesmaids

You know what is out on DVD now?  Bridesmaids  I am pretty sure that is my new favorite movie of all times.  I went to see it at the movie theater 3 times.  Kristin Wiig is my new imaginary best friend, which is totally awesome because I get to share her wardrobe.  Which other than Chris O'Dowd is probably my favorite part of the movie!  That and, oh... it's so funny, it makes me cry.

Welcome, Janene, to Houston's Eastside-Suburbia

Janene, this post is for you!  Welcome to Texas.  Your timing as a photographer in the area is great.  One of my dearest friends and phenomenal photographers Mackenzie Wheatley, of Chubbyfoot Photography, is off to Brussels.  Aside from my crushed heart, and wailing and weeping, "Don't go Mackenzie!!", it really does make your timing in these parts impeccable.  

Jennifer Womack, of Pickles to Giggles  is also pretty stellar around your new hometown.  Rumor has it she may be taking a sabbatical to care for her new baby.  So I don't foresee any turf wars in your near future. ;)

And since I'm an eye-candy junkie, you should also be introduced to two former Kingwood gals.  Who are not only beautiful women, but also beautiful photographers,   Megan Knorpp, and Marisa Johnson.  And because I know you will appreciate this sort of thing Marisa also keeps the wonderful Backyard Farming Blog.

And for the fabric.  My one true love, here are my favorite resources:
High Fashion Home (Houston)

GRS Fabric (Old Town Spring, btw is an adorable place to go shopping) 

It's A Stitch (Humble)
That should cover you for all your decorating needs!

It was wonderful to meet you.  See you again soon!

Set Up Shop

Cable and Internet, I salute you.  I am for the first time in four months with my own cable and Internet inside my actual house.  I may never leave!
I have set up my new kitchen (feel like you missed a chapter? I have rewritten the Goodbye to Bear Branch house blog post 40 times and it's just too sappy.)  So turn the page with me and let's write the next chapter...

With my modest, yet adorable kitchen in full swing, and the taunting of fall weather I am inspired to discover and/or develop the perfect pumpkin bread.  I already make a mean banana bread, but I want something that rivals Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf.  I have a few recipes I will try.  We'll see if I can't find my way around this new kitchen, experience what kind of baking mojo lingers in this house,  and bake something that is some kind of wonderful !

(Unfortunately, the above pic is not my new kitchen but the modesty and mosaic ARE inspiring!)

Dear Internet,

You are a luxury and I miss you! As soon as I find a place to live, I will come back for you and I will post all my saved drafts waiting to be published. But when I look at the upheval we will call "my life", I will have to say "shelter" is my most pressing need.

Dear cable, I can live without you as long as I have internet. Dear glasses, I have to wear you all the time due to the fact I am using my iphone for all my prior internet needs.

Dear Transparent Tales,

I like the shape you are taking! :) It feels like the start of a little something special...