♥ Disclaimer: I should mention now that these poems and ramblings of mine are not always a reflection of recent occurrences in my life.. but words that arise from a feeling I “get” from the weather, the mood of the day, I guess, stray thoughts like a dog that wanders. Rest assured that I am…
by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
With this weather languishing in bed with a good cup of something and a snack sounds perfect
Great poetic post today. xx
You have some good looking children! Love the quinoa dish! And the pecan design of the potato dish is brilliant idea…
Deeply inspiring for autumn thinking, life, photography and eating.
Smidge, loved your poem, and love the Moroccan spiced winter squash & quinoa – and could the photo be any more warmly luscious? (Hint: NO!) And wouldn’t you know it? Even your Thanksgiving sweet potatoes are adorned with flowers! I’m so excited to read the news that Just a Smidgen has been named Calgary’s top blog…any day now! (It was what we all knew all along anyway, but occasionally good news doesn’t spread quickly enough.) Have missed you Smidge and am glad to be back in your sweet company!
Oh boy these recipes look so yummy. Thanks
Smidge, there is always so much love in your posts and what fabulous photos of your boy and the yam/sweet potato dish sounds heavenly!
Mandy xo
You have such a wonderful way of presenting your dishes. Magnifique!
What wonderfully fall recipes you’ve given us Smidge; and that boy of yours is very photogenic indeed! I love the flavours you’ve combined in the Moroccan dish.
You had us fooled, we all thought you were lounging in bed all day, longing for that lost love
Your poem is stunning my friend and its so nice to spend some time with your son
Love the recipes and as always everything
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
The photos of your son are just amazing! You can almost sense his personality through them. Just lovely. I hope if I keep practicing, I’ll be able to capture my kiddos just as well. Wonderful recipes. I love fall and winter foods. They are so comforting, warming and full of flavor. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m sorry I haven’t been popping in as much. We’ll be back soon and I’ll get caught up.
I love your poem too Smidge – beautiful. I always leave your site feeling serene and smiling. 
Your poem is very good but I am glad to hear that you are enjoying comfort food for breakfast and that your heart is not crushed. I love the way you have arranged the nuts into flower shapes on the sweet potato dish.
Loving your post – going to have to try out the sweet potato dish – YUM! Have a Beautiful Day:)
Thanks, Sue!
Ahhh.. no rest for the wicked. I’m working from home today:D
Haha.. thanks.. it’s all my genes (just kidding).. maybe the food they eat?? xx
Hahaha.. any day would be perfect, spree!! You’re home!! I’ve missed you.. and I know you’ll have some amazing stories and foodie stuff to share with us!! Gasp, maybe you already have, I’m on my way over to you!! Wait for meeee!
Thank you!
xx Thank you Mandy
Well.. thanks so much Susie!!
Hahahaha.. lounging, well that is non existent for me:D You??
Well.. I will sure let him know:D
Funny, photographing still life/food has made me a better people photographer:) Don’t worry.. catching up is done whenever, right? xx
Well.. it has been crushed, I admit, but in a very distant past
You too!!! I hope you have better weather than us!! More snow and rain here today!! Blech!!
How funny, I have a giant bag of squash that I forgot to cook at Thanksgiving and I was just wondering what the heck to do with it all! And those sweet potatoes sound delicious – definitely a step up from marshmallows on top
Not so much…
Your posts, Barb, aways contain such beautiful photos but none so much as when your subjects are your children. Well done, Barb.
And as if that wouldn’t be enough, you go and give us a bit o’ verse and, get this, 2 recipes! Slow down! I’ve a hard enough time getting out 1 post a week and here you are blogging 4 posts in 1! Worse yet, I enjoyed the verse and want to try both recipes.
I understand that blogging is not a competition but you sure do set the bar awfully high. Do you think you could slack off a bit? Maybe posting an entry with a few typos would be a good way to start.
Where did my reply go to? I might be repeating myself, but I did want to thank you for your beautifully written posts, Barb. They always put a warm smile on my face. Loving that quinoa recipe!
Oh wow, that quinoa recipe looks sooooooooo comforting right now. I’ll be needing some of THAT.
Smidge, I love your poem. It’s perfect for me right now. Is there a way for us just to print the poem, like the recipes? I’m sorry if that’s a dumb question :0
Thank you for the recipes and the fabulous photographs too. I’m shocked you have a 19 year old son….he’s such a handsome guy!
Hahaha.. you got your wish.. apparently I left out what to do with the squash in the recipe:D I’m so busy these days.. my blogging is down to maybe twice a week so I try to cram in the recipes or I’ll be so far behind! I’m off to read everyone’s blogs.. my nightly cuppa tea!! Thanks for your kind words, glad you liked my poetry:D
I’d like to say I started young.. but I didn’t:) I didn’t even think about the poems like that.. I’m going to format them, starting with this one and I’ll work my way back. Thanks so much Sarah for an excellent idea:D xx I hope you’re not languishing:) xx
I don’t think so? WordPress has been “acting up”. I updated some formatting errors on earlier posts and it sent them off to Facebook as though they were new. Everyone thought I was really cooking up a storm, lol! Thanks so much for your kind words:) xx
I LOVE that marshmallow recipe! My girlfriend in high school (Joy) used to make it and it was my all time fav! I hope you make some up for us so I can get that recipe:D xx
Your words did make me think of lost loves from a long time ago. So beautifully written and such evocative words, Smidge. And you son is like a GQ model. So lovely to see photos of him. I wonder if he would get along with my Archie. They look like they would be great mates. I love his jumper – so big and thick and heavy looking – we don’t have jumpers like that in Sydney as it just doesn’t get cold enough xx
The Moroccan dish looks so exotic and delicious, not to mention healthful. And I love the design of the pecans on the yam dish. Taking a little time to arrange the pecans in a pleasing pattern adds such pleasure to the plate! It was great to see the photo shoot of your son (handsome fellow). Hmm, wonder if I could persuade mine to do that? Probably some type of bribery would be required
Hope you don’t mind me jumping in here (I know WordPress wants us to respond to other people’s comments, but it somehow feels a bit rude to me, like I’m interrupting someone else’s conversation; at any rate, I may as well finish what I started
Wonderful post overall!
Well I have quietly and peacefully loved your verse and admired the photos of a very handsome young man . . . now to get busy, as that Moroccan quinoa dish is absolutely calling out to be made – and THAT I can do here
!
What a handsome son! The Moroccan quinoa sounds fabulous, and of course it’s gorgeous as are all of your dishes!
I don’t think it’s rude at all.. it’s interesting and kind of like a conversation.. closest to “Messenger” on Facebook, lol! I love reading everyone’s blogs. Every day I get to read something new and it definitely influences how my day goes.. and the added bonus.. it almost always gives me ideas for supper:D Have a wonderful week!! xx
Trust me.. I think a video would have been more entertaining than the photos.. the eye-rolling, muttering and frowning that went on was hilarious (at least to me!). I am a strong believer in bribery or whatever it takes!! xx
Your poem as usual is very moving! Have a lovely day
From what I read of Archie.. they would be instant “Bros” (I think that’s what they call it these days!)! If I told him he had a jumper on I would have gotten into even more trouble.. jumpers in Canada are skirts with a little bib top
Thanks!xx
Thanks, Tandy!
I don’t know if this will work.. I’ve made the last two a jpeg.. you could click on the poem/photo and then print?? Let me know if that works:) xx Night!!
Great post Barbara! The poem, your son’s pictures, breakfast, quinoa and yams… I loved it
and now I have 2 more fantastic recipes in my list. Thanks for sharing!
It’s always a pleasure reading your posts
This dish looks as cozy as that sweater:) so lovely and bright too x
WOW! What a great post, handsome young man, delicious foods, and beautiful poem… You are amazing dear, Thanks and Love, nia
You have shared so much in this post, Barbara. Lovely! Your poetry is so beautiful and really compliments the mood of the delicious recipes. I am particularly eager to try the quinoa and butternut squash! I love the spice combination! Your son is a photogenic as your daughter!
I hope you enjoy the squash dish.. it was yummy!!
Amazing photos as always Barb! Your son seems very natural in front of the camera — does this mean that no bribery was required? I’m tucking away the yam recipe as it looks like simple delicious fare for fall …which is just the kind I like. Btw, we’re you having troubles with your site last night? Tried to visit several times last night but the screen was blank.
Beautiful photos Barbara and the Quinoa stew looks divine, great dish for autumn
Beautiful – and varied – post! You really covered all the bases with this one…
Oh my goodness! These are just beautiful, Barb! They both printed fine here. Thank you so much for this, wow. They’re perfect!
Great!! I’m glad it worked:D xx
Oh, yum! You make that stew look and sound simply irresistible, Barbara!
I thought this cover photo of your son was from a magazine, what a handsome young man!! I love the sweater he has on. These recipes make me swoon for fall!!
What a good looking and thoughtful young man your son is. He looks like a deep thinker.
Love your recipes, waiting for things to slow down a bit so I can start working with my butternuts.
Smidge what a handsome boy you’ve grown there! I think it’s lovely to have photos like that to look back on. Being 19 (from vague memories) was a bit of an awesome age to be.
What a great round up of fall goodness! You are moving fluidly into people photos. Lovely subjects you have.
Barb, what a gorgeous boy you have! My Big Boy is nearly 20 – it’s such a wonderful time for them! May he have a happy and blessed adulthood! xx
And the same to yours!! It is a wonderful time!!
Beautiful poem. You have this beautiful way with your words, they are so mellow at times yet strong.
What is it with boys not wanting to be photographed?
Gorgeous recipe, gorgeous boy!! Both filled with love.
A little bit of everything wonderful in this post (especially those sweet potatoes…I love sweet potatoes
)