blog in progress & baking w/pumpkin

so, this site is obviously still under construction. thanks to hannah (best friend of 23 years who has a wonderful blog about her little men:), there's at least a background now. im trying my hand today at putting up a pic of my brother's girlfriend & a cake we recently made. wonderful woman of God, dear friend, & now apparently a baking buddy!

our most recent feat was chocolate pumpkin cake. i think the icing was the highlight. chocolate & pumpkin did seem at first an odd combination... but one of the reviews alleged that it's "so moist you may weep." side note: i think the apple sauce it calls for had a lot to do w/that. there was no weeping, though. just a small amount of disappointment at the fact that our icing didn't drizzle down the sides in the most elegant way.

you'll notice in the picture on the right the 2 exposed layers of cake on the side. we got over that after tasting it, though. next is a pumpkin cheese bread. don't judge for all the pumpkin- i may have bought excessive amounts in the fall due to the rumor circulating about a potential shortage...

if you're interested in trying it, here's the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Chocolate-Dessert-Cake/Detail.aspx

freely to enjoy

just some lunchtime thoughts about the blog's name- it was ripped from a switchfoot song.

"when i wake in the morning... i want more than just okay..."

i thought about these lyrics yesterday on a walk with a friend. it was the perfect MLK Day off- pleasant temps, clear skies, specialty pancakes* for breakfast followed by a stroll in a sleepy/quaint corner of Lexington. the verse about being given "all things freely to enjoy" came to mind while my friend pointed out that it's so clear life on earth involves more than merely survival.

the switchfoot song continues, "i want... more than fine, more than bent on getting by..."

...which brings to mind the complaint of a (fictional) old soul, a jane austen character who bemoaned a sense of her life becoming "a quick succession of busy nothings." the monotony of routine does at times seem to threaten an enthusiastic, all-there approach to life, but the offer of abundant life isn't merely a gift of continuous pleasant feelings. yes, we're meant for more than just plowing through, more than eat, sleep, repeat. not simply, survival? check. but what is the "next thing...? do it in love." (a helpful reminder from brennan manning's the furious longing of God- i recommend. along w/ the below pancake concoction :)

*try coconut, pineapple, banana & pecan in the batter & even a little on top, pre-syrup. so good!