Merry Christmas to all my friends!  It's been a crazy year, a year you didn't see me much.  I'm not going to lie it was a rough go.  I started 2015 with a broken leg, and things just seemed to stay challenging.  I learned a lot. I worked on myself.  I know myself better, I love myself more.  I think we all need these cocoon years to really focus inward and inspect what's there, to purge the baggage to make room for new amazing growth.  

I look forward to sharing creativity, vulnerability, and random crazy in 2016.  

Wherever you are in your journey here on earth, know that every season is important, transformative, and necessary.  Blessings to you as you live out your own adventure, and remember.... we're in this together.
Love & Peace, Steph aka The Hippie Moose

Fall always seems like a time of change for me.  Time to put my summer clothes away, pull out my warm cozy clothes, can all my harvest.  Was looking at my Pinterest today and I think everyone else must be in the same Fall mindset because this seems to be my most popular pin so far this month (click the picture to go to the pin):

My nephew Luke drew me a Hippie Moose and I have to say... I'm SO impressed!!

by Artist Luke Peters

We have finally relocated, phew, done.  Now I have to admit there are a few boxes kicking around still, and my office looks a bit like a tornado, but things are shaping up nicely.

My husband and I took a trip to The Enchanted Forest Studio for the Westport Studio Tour.  Our friend David R. Maracle was playing and showing his sculptures.

The house, built by photographer Brian Mantrop, was simply amazing and I had to share some pictures.  He built it from the ground up using tons of recycled and repurposed materials.


Faithful dog guards the apple basket.


The house is 4 levels, the main floor living area, office area, and two bedrooms.

There are amazing outbuildings on the property that serve as studio's and sheds.


Kathy Cashman's studio, she makes amazing clothing!



The front porch of the main house, including a stone seating area for your morning coffee....



 The main living area, tons of windows let in natural light.


 The amazing woodwork comprising the ceiling on the main level.


If you ever get a chance to visit this amazing place I promise you won't be disappointed!

Happy Fall to you all!  Thought I would post some pictures of my latest project!



Our mailbox has been in some need of TLC for some time now and I finally managed to pick one up on sale at TSC (sorry that was a lot of abbreviations!)


So, a mailbox, some white rust-proof paint, a paintbrush and your're ready to go!

The reason I haven't put it up yet?  We are MOVING!! At the end of October we are moving just down the road and into the woods.  We are SO excited,  The mailbox is getting packed up and is moving down the street with us!

I love this time of year when everything is growing, blooming, and so alive!


My lavender is doing really well this year.  Last year, not so much.  I tried wintering it in containers but the roots froze and that was the end of that.  Soooo, last year we planted lavender in the ground where it wintered just fine!

The rest of the garden is coming along nicely...

We had quite the storm front come through tonight.  Threats of tornado's and hail ~ we got thunder, lightning, and HUGE rain! After the storm moved on I got a few pictures of the evening sky... 

I recently rediscovered charcoal.  I love working with it.  I had forgotten.

If you've never used it I highly recommend trying it.  It's available at any art supply store and it's so easy to use.  I love the ability you have to shade and really get your fingers dirty. I was introduced to the idea of adding white pain at the end to add highlights and I think it's brilliant, not to mention another opportunity to finger paint as an adult! 

Below is a youtube video on the basics of getting started with charcoal. 

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Happy Easter/Passover! Been spending some time out in Creation enjoying watching it wake up from this winter.

I'm sure you've seen this floating around facebook.  I decided to try after my 28 day Clean Gut cleanse as a way of eating oatmeal again without the gluten.

Overnight Oatmeal
1 cup almond or coconut milk
1/2 cup whole oats (large flake)
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. raisins
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp ground flax seed

Mix everything in a mason jar. Screw on lid and place in fridge overnight.

By morning the chia seeds have softened and all the milk has been absorbed. I really love it. My husband prefers dried cranberries.  I like mine cold but I have a co-worker who warms her's up and loves it.

Are oats gluten free?  Well it actually depends on the company you buy them from.  Quaker says that can't help some cross contamination and testing shows gluten in their product. What companies are gluten free?  Here are a few:
Bob's Red Mill 
Cream Hill Estates
Only Oats 

Check your local bulk food or health food store!

I JUST found this recipe at theyummylife.com ~ Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal.  I will be trying that out! (Click on the picture below for the recipe)  For a link to a bunch more varieties of overnight oatmeal check out The Yummy Life website HERE.