Welcome Home

Nov 26, 2014

Welcome home readers. Thank you so much for joining me here! I hope that this news isn’t too chaotic amongst the business of the season, with your endless to-do lists, and shopping lists, and honey do lists – and…

But seriously. Welcome home to my new blog home – www.littleblessedlife.com. I chose this for of course longevity, but also as the marriage between my “Minnesota/Family Life happenings, and my journey as I blog about how my fathers death has affected me this past year, and for matters of faith. I am so fortunate to live a blessed life. A life where I have a dear family to support me, wonderful friends & co-workers to lift me up each day, and passions that I have been blessed with that I could have never imagined!

There will be more fun to come in the next month or so, but my lips are sealed for now!

You will notice along the top there is a menu! If you would like to know something specific I have tried my darndest to categorize a lot of my blog posts into a particular theme or topic!

There is:

Faith –
Where you will find posts about my journey along loosing my father, or if a particular worship song, or Sunday message at church caught special attention!

Family
Life lessons that my husband, daughter or pets give to me. Sometimes it’s just re-caping our weekend, or a little family gathering that has blessed my life.

Farming (Suburban)
This one is pretty fun for me. I love gardening, and we own 4 “backyard” chickens that are LEGAL in my city and the zone I live in. (so don’t you worry) I am
passionate about homesteading, and living life more simply.

Food + Wine
I love food, and I love wine, and sometimes I like to take pretty pictures of my food, post recipes, and reviews of wines.

Fun
We love adventure, mostly camping! This year we are planning our first trip to the BWCAW in the spring of 2015!

So please update your records for me! You may also subscribe in the upper right hand corner by entering your e-mail address and each time I post it will be like a little treasure delivered directly to your e-mail inbox! If that’s too intense for you, add me to your favorite blog management site, or update your bookmarks!

Love each and every one of you!
~ Mn Lindsey

Winter Prep

Nov 19, 2014

Time to dig out the shovels and ice scrapers that have been safely hiding in garages since May. In just a mater of hours we went from autumn to full blown winter! Luckily though we had a few day warning though.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or in another country the greater part of the United States has been hit with a giant Polar Vortex of sorts sending most of the country into January like winter conditions! Icy cold temperatures, and FEET of snow (poor Buffalo NY). Last January I did a post titled, “So, you’re going to have a Polar Vortex?” Now luckily our temperatures are no where near what they were during the Polar Vortex of January 2014, but we did have to do a bit of winter prep.

1.) Food
On deer opener we were blessed that our good family friend and my husband both bagged deer. So between 70-80lbs of venison, our chickens butchered from this past summer and our eggs we probably won’t be going hungry all too soon.

2.) Chickens
We added a new level of required preparation this year! We had to ensure that our sweet chicks would be adequately warm! We covered the entire coop, and run in thick contractors plastic, and added in more straw. We moved their food out into the open a bit so they wouldn’t spill it gathering around for a meal, and hung some cabbage (that you can see on the ground). The other thing we did was added a heated dog bowl, which activates when the temperature drops below 40. It doesn’t make the water warm, but it does keep it from freezing which is about perfect.

Our girls seem to be doing okay (even though we have had lows all the way down in the single digits and sub zero windchill), I desperately want to add a heatlamp to the coop, or the run, but logic, books, and heaps of blogs tell me not to! They are a recipe for fires, and chickens produce quite a bit of heat regardless. My favorite chicken blogger has assured me in myriad posts that my girls will be just fine!

We are continuing to get about 2 eggs per day. Sometimes just one, and sometimes three. I’ve had to adjust how often I go out however. When it was “autumn” I went out after work, but I’ve grown to learn their laying patterns and they lay at nearly 7:30 a.m. every single morning. So if I don’t want frozen cracked eggs which are of no use to me, then I must go when the girls are laying! The other day I even caught the egg as it came out of one of the hens.

3.) Warmth

Praise the Lord above for warmth! We had no time to acclimate to the cooler temps by it gradually getting cooler, so we purchased a full cord of wood, and have been having fires nearly ever night since our first snow fall. Since the wood comes in long pieces – Jason has to chainsaw through, and I help haul and stack the wood. I stopped by Fleet Farm last Friday and bought these mint choppers! They kept my hands toasty warm, and are extremely protective against slivers, and are rugged enough to handle any MN winter chores!

Share below. What are you doing to prepare for the winter season?

Sing Oceans

Nov 2, 2014

I’ve heard from several people recently that they do not like singing the song Oceans – by Hillsong. Up until very recently could hardly sing it anymore without bursting into tears. It is a song, made up of lyrically powerful stuff! And I get it. I get why they don’t want to sing Oceans, or why people even suggest that you don’t sing Oceans – but I say sing it, mean it, live it.

If you’re not familiar with the song, or are just joining my blog for the first time, here are the lyrics.

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will standAnd I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mineYour grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine[3x]

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine.

To me this song is a pure and powerful prayer that does not hold back. It is an invitation of the Holy Spirit to the soul, but one should not be afraid of the lyrics. Its not saying, Lord I will do all of these things if you bring hardship into my life, or please Lord bring hard things into my life so that I can have a deeper understanding of you. No… I don’t believe that’s what this song is saying at all…

There will come a time in your life when the proverbial shit, hits the proverbial fan. We live in a broken world that is not fair, or just, but God is. If i’ve learned anything in my life I’ve learned that none of us are promised an easy life – but we can choose how we overcome these hard times. If you haven’t experienced hardship yet it will happen… but you don’t have to do it alone.

Let your faith run deep, wild and free – because as I was saying this prayer over the past two years it built up in me a strength I honestly do not believe I would have had if i hadn’t prayed these lyrics. I don’t think by singing this song constantly over the past few years the song invited my dad to choke to death. That was due to a series of terrible fateful things lining up with terrible timing and circumstances. I don’t believe it was the Holy Sprit saying, Okay Lindsey – you’ve prayed the prayer here you go, here’s your hardship so that your faith can grow deeper, but rather Lindsey – this is the situation. I’m sorry, but its time to get out of the boat. You’re going to have to trust me that I will catch you.

Whether you sing this song or not, there will come a point in your life where things are going to be hard. That is life on this side of heaven. Maybe it’s deciding if you have the financial means to be a stay at home mom, or if you should choose a college that is close to home, or across the country, maybe you’re facing a tough time at work, trying to raise half a million dollars for a church, or several thousand for a mission trip or facing a sickness, or a sudden death. Whatever water you face which is unique for us all, there is a savior that says to all of us, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.”. (Isaiah 41:10)

There is a game my daughter learned this summer that many of us adults know, and its the trust fall game. Where you and a partner stand next to each other, and the first person closes their eyes, stretches out their hands, and falls back towards the ground and your partner catches you. Oceans is just like that. Its saying, you know what. I will trust you so deep Lord that I will let go and when I fall I know that you will be right there to catch me.

To me this song is all about preparing your heart and soul now in a deep relationship with Christ so that when we face hard times we know without a fraction of a doubt that Jesus is with us. This song is all about building a relationship with Jesus about inviting us to trust God deeply, not invite hard times in our life. That will happen all on its own. I don’t know about you, but when I am in the boat of life and the waves start to grow bigger I thank God with all of my might that Jesus will be there with me. I do not think it was an accident that I was singing this song with all of my might the moment I got the call about my dad. It was God who knows all things, knew I needed to be reminded of these lyrics one last time before I heard the news.

So sing Oceans. Don’t be afraid and sit on the side lines of faith. Nothing great comes from sitting on the sidelines. Peyton Manning did not beat Bret Favre’s career passing touchdown record by sitting on the sidelines, Wayne Gretzky, and Michael Jordan did not get where they did by sitting on the sidelines. Martin Luther King Jr, and Rosa Parks did not change history by sitting on the sidelines, and I am not just “handling my dad’s death” by sitting on the sidelines. I am living each day the lyrics of Oceans. Each day is not easy, but each day i know that when I call upon His name, God is rushing to me, embracing me with his kindness, and grace.

I will keep singing Oceans and asking God to continue to lead me where my trust has no borders. I refuse to put God in a box, but will let him touch all areas of my life and beg him to take me deeper in faith then my feet could ever wander on their own… so when I have a hard day – or something else strikes I will be ready.

Invite the Holy Spirit to do great things in you. Sing Oceans. Sing it loudly in your car, sing it quietly before bed, and let your faith run wild and free in the deep waters.

I know I have linked to this song before, but this is my most favorite version of the song.

Here’s My Heart Lord

Oct 30, 2014

I stated early in this process that my cousin said to me, “Lindsey… these are the times that your faith either grows unimaginably stronger, or you loose it all together”. She was so right. I suppose you could continue on in your faith as usual, but I am a person of deep feeling, and emotion. Maybe its because of that genetic makeup of my being, or because I have been inviting the Holy Spirit into my life in such a deep and powerful way, but the blinders have been lifted off my eyes.

Of course I’ve always always believed in Christ as my savior, but now its not just believing, its seeing, and feeling.

When everything else is taken away from me, I am reminded that God is more than enough, He’s all I have, He’s everything.

He’s the life link between me and my dad, who I know is standing beside him. I can’t imagine if my dad was not a follower of Christ – and I would be unsure if he is in heaven, but I know with all of my being that he is.

In all of this – my heart has been so fully surrendered to God. I trust so deep to my core that he is sovereign in all things. How couldn’t I?

One area in my life I have been shoving down more privately however is the subject of my birthday – a birthday whom I share[d] with my dad. Even when I was in the Navy I shared my birthday with our physician/LT so I’ve never really really had my birthday be my own… Anytime I allow my self to think about it too much I feel a full blown panic attack approaching. My mom, bless her, asked what I wanted for my birthday dinner and cake since it would be all up to me now…

Frankly I guess I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to pick a cake by myself or a meal for dinner. Initially I think that maybe I just don’t want my birthday at all anymore, I don’t care. The thought of it is inconceivable to me… but a thought crossed my mind – that maybe picking my own cake, or my own birthday dinner feels like I’m taking advantage of the situation. My dad and I are supposed to battle it out. I don’t want swiss and cranberry pork tenderloin and he doesn’t want chipped beef… I want 7 up Bunt Cake, and he wants Keys House Cake. Of course I have the options to myself now… but I don’t want to. It feels all so wrong, and stings.

Its also a blinding reminder that it is true that my dad is gone, and maybe that’s the hardest part, or maybe a combination of the three.

Several years ago my prayer for my life were the lyrics of the song Oceans. Oh how I prayed for those lyrics to come true. God has faithfully lead me to this place of deep wonderment. Of course it was NOT the way I supposed it would happen, but nonetheless I am here trusting God without boarders.

I heard this song during worship a few weeks back and have been listening to it nearly every day since. It is my new prayer.

Father I am ready and here upon the waters as you’ve called me – the great unknown where feet may fail. And there I find You in the mystery In oceans deep My faith will stand.
And I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise My soul will rest in Your embrace For I AM Yours and You ARE mine.

Father I have felt your beautiful presence in my life so strongly these past four months that I see you Lord. You have shown me your mercy, and love, and holiness in a way I never would have seen otherwise. Though my feet feel like they are FAILING ME whenever I think about my birthday – the moment in time when you created me, created my father, and joined us together with You – I know that you will be with me through this. Though this marks strongly reality for me that my father is with you Father let me be in prayer that I am comforted by you and your grace once more.

I’m here Lord. I’m in the waters, and they are a scary place to be. I feel myself sinking, but then I see that you are with me. While I am here Lord – speak what you need to, and want to. The blinders are off, my ears are listening and tear filled eyes are pointed and focused towards you. Through this season I am found, I am Yours I am loved, I’m made pure. I have life, I can breathe I am healed, I am free. You are strong, You are sure, You are life, You endure. You are good, always true You are light breaking through. You are more than enough, You are here, You are love. You are hope, You are grace YOU’RE ALL I HAVE, YOU’RE EVERYTHING!

– Here’s my heart Lord – Here’s my life Lord – Speak what is true.

Camptober!

Oct 19, 2014

October is truly one of my favorite months! The smells – OH the smells and what better way to experience them and all that October has to offer by tent camping!

We headed up over this MEA weekend on Friday to one of our favorite destinations, Savannah Lake. Savannah Lake is within the Savannah Portage State Park and is a simple 2.5 hour drive basically right up the road for us. We ditched our motor boat for the canoe and used the logic of – can we take it to the BWCAW next Spring? No? Then we don’t need to pack it now.

Of course we took a few luxuries such as our camp stove, camping chairs, the dutch oven and our gynormous camping tent!

It was just us, plus our two friends Pam & Phil on this trip. While we waited for their arrival, miss K, Jason and I played Tic-Tac-Toe on the ground using rocks and pine needles as our x’s and o’s, and little miss was entertained for hours. I’m kind of ashamed to admit she beat badly about half the time, even when I was actually trying!

As stated previously we brought the canoe, for the sole purpose of testing it out with the dogs. We took my friends suggestion of leashing the dogs, with Sadie (our JRT) in the front, and then me, then Kiki, then Niko (our Mastiff) and lastly Jason.

All it took was about 50 feet of paddling to decide that Niko was officially uninvited to the BWCAW trip! He would lean one way or another to try and lick the water as Jason paddled, or watch the water, and I would then with all of my might have to try and counter the weight. Kiki was terrified that we were going to tip over, and truthfully so was I. We were all very motivated NOT to tip over since it was a brisk 42 degrees air temp at launch time.

With his massive size already at over 80lbs, and with him going to be likely around 120lbs by the time we take the trip, we decided its just not worth it right now. We will probably still bring Sadie with, but she is much more manageable.

It was a really enjoyable trip though all and all. We ended up going on a three mile hike, ate amazing meals, fished, canoed, and shared great stories around the fire! We were even visited by 19 Trumpeter Swans and were awoken Saturday morning with their symphonic band practice at 6:30 a.m.

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All and all I really enjoyed this rather fairly minimalistic version of camping vs. glamping!

We even decided on night two to ditch the cot and sleep on the ground, because after all we’re not hauling our cot to the BWCA with us, and you know what? It was actually quite pleasant.

The next time we’re going camping we will officially be in the BWCAW. I’m hoping that my high dreams do not disappoint, but its quite easy to get carried away with the planning, but so far its been half the fun!

Waiting for my eggs!

Oct 8, 2014

Since late April I’ve been waiting for eggs. I got an itch to raise my own chickens after my good friend Pam promised me how easy they were to raise. Research was poured into breeds of chickens for this harsh Minnesota climate and hours were spent on Pinterest finding the perfect chicken coop plan for my husband to build.

Last June I got my chicks and after a fateful attempt with round one after Sadie killed the first batch, I have been waiting patiently with batch number two since then. (Two red stars/Isa Browns and two Black Australops).

Like a human mother in her ninth month of pregnancy I wait and wait and wait. Any day now we could see eggs in their nesting boxes, so each morning like a kid on Christmas I run out to the chicken coop before work to see if my girls have given me any eggs.

So far they’ve been keeping their legs closed pretty tight, but are always happy to see me and are getting quite friendly with me even allowing me to pet them and pick them up. Each time I approach the Coop I hear a bak bak bak and I bak bak back.

They are incredibly easy to take care of and love being let out to nibble on all of the greenery my October yard has left to offer.

I have lost track of who’s name is who’s especially after we had to get rid of Henry who used to be Beatrice who then turned into Babs and is now Henry the rooster residing in elk River Minnesota… The problem with naming them is that you get attached, and before you know it they turn into roosters and you have to get rid of them! At least I can still visit Henry….But clearly I digress!

So now they’re just my girls… And I’m their shepherd waiting for them to lay eggs, or am I considered a farmer? These are the musings I contemplate laying in bed while trying to fall asleep.

Which I must do because I have nesting boxes to check in the morning!

Training Grief

Oct 8, 2014

Growing up I was the youngest of three children. I grew up in a typical household and the typical order of the siblings. Because I was the younger one I usually followed my brother and sister around.

Grief is like that. Like an annoying little brother or sister that just follows you around and won’t leave you alone. Its always there. Some days it allows me to have very good days where I am cheerful, and not a painful memory crosses my mind, but its always there. There is always a nagging sense even on my good days that it is still close by.

Recently on a social media post about grief I read, “Some days all I want to do is stay in bed, holding my grief close. But I have trained it now so it follows me out into the world, staying a respectable distance behind, allowing me to laugh and live as well as cry and die”. I just love that. It shows the ebbing and flowing and reality of grief.

I’m not broken though. As the statement below says, but I’m trying to discover my life after death. What it all means now living without my father, and the reality that I cannot call him anymore, or see him, and that he will not show up to life events. Though he will always be close to me in spirit I have to learn to find the beauty in this ugly reality.

God never promised a care free life free from pain on this side of heaven, but with him by my side I can start making that second stitch.

An open letter to my friends and family

Sep 18, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

This letter or posting… whatever you would like to call it, is truly for you today. Time is whirling by, and can’t believe that it’s already mid September! Its been nearly 80 days since that fateful day in July. The day that my own heart stopped beating, and my new life took over.

My pastor just gave an AMAZING sermon on friendship last weekend, and if you have the time I encourage you all to listen here titled Maximize Your Friendships.

It reminded me that I have to thank you all. Not just a general thank you, though this probably does seem pretty general, but a real honest, bottom of my heart thank you!

You have all been absolutely amazing. Some of you dropped everything you were currently doing to help take care of Kiki, or transport her to us… you showed up to the hospital or services with a needed smile, a nod of understanding and a warm hug, and have continued to be there for me and my family with words of encouragement, and getting together to talk and have some wine on the deck.

You’ve known when to come close, and stay far from the subject when you sense it is too much for my emotions that day or moment. I swear I have bi-polar when it comes to what I want. I want to talk non-stop about my dad and choke on my words about how sad it makes me and let the tears fall from my face, and at the same time I don’t want to talk about it at all. Perhaps not talking about it helps me forget that it actually happened. Perhaps talking about it makes me feel so much closer to him so that it feels as though he’s not so far away.

Thank you all so much for meeting me where I am at the moment where our lives intersect at the moment they intersect. Some days I am miserably sad, and other days I’m the most joyful Lindsey you’ve seen. You seem to know and get what I need. I do still need all of you. Your presence makes me feel so loved, and I am so lucky to have you in my life. Every hug you give, or even your own thoughts and prayers on your own time are felt. Truly. Your words of encouragement to me be it on my blog post, in a text, on Facebook or even a call is not overlooked, but cherished deeply. I feel myself literally being lifted up by all of you.

As Paul states to the Thessalonians in 5:17, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” you are building me up. You are encouraging me, and building me up.

I can only hope that someday I can return the favor to you as well. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It feels so good to be loved, and thought about, and cared after.

A is for Attitude

Sep 10, 2014

I was going to originally title this post A is for Anger.

Ever have one of those mornings where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I definitely did today.

I was having an incredible dream, though at my father’s funeral I kept seeing him crystal clear… He was talking to me and I felt a sense of calm wash over me… But each time I looked deeper at him it was not my father at all, but instead was my uncle Buck or my uncle Joe… I would push through the crowd looking for my dad but I couldn’t find him….

Our eight month old dog woke me up whining uncontrollably to be let out at 5:30 this morning… I was so angry that he woke me up that it put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Soon I was barking my own orders around the house to the dogs and to my daughter, and was slamming the doors and stomping around in the process.

After I dropped little Miss off at school, I experienced what seemed to be a never ending series of events that happened one after another. And incompetent cashier that declined a check that shouldn’t have been declined, a gift registry that kept flashing error and wouldn’t print and another cashier who couldn’t help me at all. I was feeling fully deflated and annoyed by the time I actually got to work.

Once I finally got to work fully annoyed at my morning I broke down after several envelopes got stuck together in the mail room. I thought to myself why is life pissing in my Cheerios? I stood there sobbing and hoping nobody would walk in on me. I pulled myself together and went back to work.

Later on I was affixing this letter “A” sticker on to something else and kept repeating to myself, “A is for anger” “A is for anger”, which was actually making me more angry and deflated. A few coworkers noticed I was quite taciturn today and asked if I was alright. I lied and said I’m fine…

But later on in the day when I was facing towards my wall coworker asked if I was okay and I silently shook my head “no”. I grabbed my purse and went to my “Secret Garden” to regroup. I cried out to the Lord, “Help me. I’m so sad today Lord. I have such a bad attitude of anger and I’m so sorry that I yelled at my daughter and my pets. I’m angry Father. I’m angry and so sad that my dad had to die so stupidly. Its STUPID God…. He wasn’t old, he wasn’t caught in the crossfires of a drunk driver, or diagnosed with cancer or heart disease…. its something that could happen to anyone, and I hate it. I feel so helpless, and so scared God that I could die any day… any moment… and oh life seems so muted. All the life has gone out of everything, and it all just looks so stupid. I haven’t given up hope Lord in life… no, but the wind has been let out of my sails…. I feel as though I have lost my navigation map and compass… where do I go from here Lord? Help me Lord. I have so much to do these next few weeks… help me. Restore my soul and lift me up Father. I need your help. Return in me a joyful and patient heart. Father I ask that nobody asks me when I go back why I left so abruptly… please let me re-enter as if nothing happened at all. Maybe nobody even noticed, but if they did Father I ask that they let it go… or wait for a better time. Please God… help me get through these next few hours, days, and weeks….

And He did.

God is so great in that way. Soon I felt a complete calm rush over me that is so unexplainable that my only explanation can point towards the God of all comfort. I retuned to work feeling happy and content, and ready to face whatever it threw at me. I was able to think more clearly, and was even cheery again.

This is such a hard road I am going down. I know that there are people in this world suffering far worse than I am right now, but this is my plight. It hurts and stings and on the eve of my grandfather’s (would be) 100th birthday. I cant help but think of my own birthday. I’m so scared and sad. I know it doesn’t have to be a scary or sad day…. but so far even the mention of it, or thought of it sends me into sheer anxiety. I take a deep breath in, and push it all away.

I know I will have to confront it soon… but for now I am content… I still feel the sharp edge of sorrow waiting and the world feels completely out of balance, but my hope is in the Lord. I will lean on those who love me, and not be afraid to show emotion when the train of sadness and anxiety hits. I need people right now. Please pray for me… I am absolutely NOT in a dark and scary place where anyone needs to feel concern… but I am absolutely sad and disappointed in how things turned out for my own selfish gain.

I know for fact that my dad is in a better place. He loved Jesus with all of his heart. I know he is absolutely in heaven rejoicing right now. I know that this time that we are separated is but a breath to him now that time doest not play a factor in his new life, but it plays such a huge factor in mine. I thought it would be YEARS upon YEARS before we would be separated…. and even that thought was unbearable… The only thing that brings me comfort is to know that he is praising Jesus face to face and that he is experiencing a sense of joy right now that only I read about in the Bible.

I realize that this is a different kind of post tonight. More open and honest and raw than ever before. Truth be told my feet almost failed me today. I almost stood in those waters and just let the tide wash over me, and drown me. But Jesus was there the whole time, with his arm out saying, Lindsey… take my hand… take it… let me help you. This does suck…. but I am here… I am with you. I AM. I reached out to God, and am in his arms.

Love came down and rescued me today… Love came down and set me free from this anger that was siring up inside of me. I heard this song on the way home tonight, and it was so perfect, and so fitting that I just had to share it with you all.

I hope you enjoy this song as much as I did tonight.

Caramelized Onion and Beet Soup

Sep 10, 2014

Fall is officially upon us here in Minnesota. The high today was a brisk 53 degrees, and soup definitely sounded like it was going to be the dinner entree of choice! I stopped by the Farmers Market on the way home and picked up my weekly haul from Minnesota Fresh Farm, grabbed a bottle of my favorite Tempranillo, and decided that for the first time I was going to ACTUALLY try the Caramelized Onion and Beet Soup I found on Pinterest several weeks ago.

Here is the recipe.

This dish was incredibly easy to make. All I had to do was trim the stems and tails off my beets, and then peel them up. Next I sliced up an onion and the rest was “chuck in the pot and go”. I even had FRESH homemade chicken broth from the whole chicken I made up two days ago… in exactly 4 cups! I mean… how awesome is that! Nearly everything that went into the pot was grown within 15 miles of our home. (including the chicken!)

The aromas that drenched our house were amazing! My husband did not think so, and since he hates onions he went to Burger King! (GASP!!) Instead I finished up this recipe, plucked some basil from my garden and put in several leafs when it came to blending. So I suppose mine fully integrated with basil. I toasted some walnuts for about 7-8 minutes and decorated with full basil leaves.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

Thank you so much goboroot for posting this on pinterest, or thank you to whoever pinned it… and thank you Emi for creating such a delicious and GORGEOUS dish!!! It tastes very similar to Basil Tomato soup with the basil in it, and the earthiness of the very easy drinking, light tannin really Tempranillo brings out the beet root taste.