Sunday, November 20, 2011

Baking Season

I have the most wonderful bread customers! And they love bread! As you've most likely noticed, I bake a lot of Finnish Cardamom Bread at this time of the year. I've done several sales again this month, and I have to say, people are still eating bread. And marionberry coffee cake! Thank you if you are one of my bread lovers!
I am trying something new the next few weeks. I signed up to sell in Astoria at the Winter Market. I've ALWAYS thought it would be so fun to do the Sunday Markets, but they are,..well...on Sunday. That's pretty much church and family day for us, so I haven't done it.
This winter, they are having an indoor market, though, and it's on Saturdays and Sundays, you can sell on either or both days, so, I thought I'd give it a try. I know there are plenty of Finns down there haha.  So anyway, if you're in Astoria, stop by the Market at 14th and Duane, and say hi!
I'll be there the Saturdays of  Nov. 26th, Dec 3rd, and Dec. 10th. AND my daughter will have her cute little kids' clothing, too! Fun, fun, fun! She's made some of the most darling things with a vintage flair.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, being thankful for what you have, and for Who loves you! ~Karen

Monday, November 7, 2011

A Busy November


It's that time of year again, and gosh it came fast! I've been busy trying to get all the things done that I wait for the last minute to do, which only adds extra stress to my day. As a lot of you know, I am a Finnish Cardamom bread baker. Well, I bake lots of stuff, but this is what people usually know me for in the baking department. I've baked and sold this bread for...older than my own age lol.  OK, a little less than half my age! Wow, that makes me feel old!
I will be baking all of Thursday for a sale on Friday, then coming home and baking most of the night for the next day! But I love it.  By the way, I will have the marionberry coffeecakes, too. I get in trouble if I don't bring those~!
My daughter, Kristin and I both love to bake, AND do vintage sales, and some handmade creations besides. These sales this winter can't involve vintage, (unless we sneak them in a props!) but we'll be having a very full menu on our plates as it is. If you get down to the Longview, WA area, stop by and see us. If you need directions, just send me an email.
I'm not "positive", but I believe we'll be in Astoria, OR after Thanksgiving, doing their Winter Market. I've talked to the lady, and sent in my registration, but I still need to confirm it, so I'll post on that later.
It's always fun when we're at a sale and someone says, "I read your blog". The first time it happened, it kind of embarrassed me, because I knew NOTHING about them, and they knew what an airhead I AM lol. Anyway, don't be shy, say hi! ~ Karen

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Searching For Blue

There is some blue there!
The older I get, the more sunshine I need! Or light. Or fresh air.  Here in Oregon, the weather is pretty moderate. Where I live, there is no real extreme temperature; if we happen to get weather down to the teens, it's not often, if we have highs above 90, that doesn't happen real often either. Yes, we do get rain. I was surprised to find that there are a lot of places that actually get more rain than us, because that's the comment people often make about Oregon.
Oregonians don't use umbrellas either. Well, some do, but not most. Our fall scenery is gorgeous. I see pictures of the eastern part of our country, and they remind me of what we get; lots of reds and oranges. Oregon is all about trees, you know.
Well, I've decided that I need to start taking more Vitamin D. I need to get outside more this winter, even if it means to the greenhouse. I need to appreciate every break from the rain that we get. I confess, although I'm a native to Oregon, (even native to my neighborhood), I haven't in the last few years appreciated the rain. I go through the day reminding myself that the rain is what makes our state so beautiful. It gets tough, but I'm determined.
As I was driving in my car the other day, we had one of those really cloudy, dark skies, and wayyyyyyy in the distance I could see a piece of blue sky. It was a brilliant blue, with sunshine in it. I decided that even when it's cloudy, whether it's the day, or if it's life, I need to look for that little piece of blue. If I can't see it, I need to keep watching, because it always does show up again. And when it does, I need to be ready for it! Expecting it!
I have a friend who has some serious health issues. She has had brain cancer; had that removed, and they put a shunt in her head. I don't understand it all. She had some kind of cancer in her thyroid, had that treated. She had all this while taking care of her inlaws! A year ago, she found out she has a new tumor in her brain, although it's not cancerous "yet", they said it was too dangerous to operate on. But it will grow. She'd been really sick, tried some new type of drug, thought she was doing better, losing weight, which her doctor told her the medicine would cause. THEN shel started having symptoms that she assumed were pre-menopause. She had a check up and the Dr.'s office called to tell her that she has uterine cancer! Then, with all those tests, the new doctor saw the brain tumor, and said, "It has to come out!". So, she is facing the unknown. My heart just hurts for her. But you know what? She is trusting God to heal her. She is fighting. She is LIVING! She's been painting her kitchen! She's NOT sitting and crying, although she's had her moments. In other words, she is "searching for the blue", looking past the clouds. My little stuff is just that...small.
I want to enjoy every single day. I want to accomplish something every single day. I want to build stronger and stronger relationships with my kids and husband every single day. I want to be the friend that I should be to my friend(s). I want to thank God for how rich I am. Nope, not rich in dollars, but rich in life.  Our experiences, our relationships, the things we see, belong to us. A rich land owner might actually be paying for the land around me, because he owns it, but the view is MINE! When we look out at that ocean sunset, and later our minds recall it, that ocean sunset is OURS! For free! Because it is something God gave us!
Sunset from my home.
View from my mom's yard.
Watch for the blue.  ~Karen