spiced apple cider

this is one of my favorite recipes! Passed down by my wonderful mom of course :)

Hot Apple Cider

3 parts 100% Apple Juice-depending on how much you want to make, I use at least one bottle
1 Part 100% Cranberry Juice
3 Cinnamon Sticks
1 teaspoon of cloves held in either a coffee filter or a tea ball
Sugar to taste

Combine ingredients in large pot on stove or crock pot. Heat on high heat until simmering then reduce heat to low and cover. Let steep on low for at least one hour. When cider is spiced to your taste remove the cloves (you can remove the cinnamon as well, but I usually leave the sticks in).
If the cider is too tart you can add a bit of sugar (I usually end up adding a little less than 1/4 cup of sugar). Serve while still hot! Can be stored in the fridge, and drank cold or hot!

fall moons

There is just something about walking outside on the first cold night of the year and looking up into a clear, crisp sky. The stars look brighter, the moon looks brighter, and the air smells cleaner. How awesome that fall has arrived and it looks like we are actually going to have a cool fall this year in NC. Well, needless to say being in the house all day, and walking around outside at night time with Lela brought out the inner hippy and I wrote a poem...yes...I wrote a poem. Go ahead and laugh, but here it is. Of course, the grammar may need a little help (it has, after all, been four years since poetry class).


There are people dancing on the moon
Hand in hand through the misty white light,
The night surrounds their mirth and merriment
As they go round singing to their gods and angels.