the sunny path

Fall is here and there is the most beautiful golden hue everywhere you look. The Aspens are all gold and reflect the warm Autumn sun in the afternoons. I hate to get all romantic and such, but really, there is no other way to explain it. I soak up these Autumn days, because it goes by so quickly here, and soon the Aspens will look like skeletons against the grey skies and white snow.
Lately we've been waking to cold mornings. Frost on the grass and back deck. It reminds me that winter is just around the corner. There is no hiding from it. This morning, without even thinking, I dug through the bins in our front closet, organizing the mittens and hats, sorting through the old and replacing them with the new items that I have purchased. Here in the Yukon, we start planning and ordering our winter gear at the end of August. Our first year in the Yukon, we received 2 feet of snow on Sept 23rd. It's never too early to be prepared.
Other random things. For Noah's birthday this year, we decided to take a risk and we bought him his first Lego set. I wasn't sure if 4 was too early for it, but it turns out that he loves the stuff, just loves it. I don't like to get attached to "stuff", but I have to say, Lego is seriously the most amazing thing to come into our lives. I have never seen Noah be more engaged or have something hold his attention like Lego does. When he wakes in the morning he runs for his Lego. When he gets home from school, he heads straight to his Lego. Before dinner, yup, it's Lego. This stuff keeps him so happy and the best part of all is that he is creating things with it. Buildings, vehicles, people.... he's just so engaged, and I love it! score one for Lego!
Today I had a moment of "I love it here". I decided that we would take a drive down to Beaver Creek (the actual creek, not our town) and that we would have our snack down there. On the way, I listened to Q on CBC and for a moment felt both connected to my immediate surroundings and the rest of my country. I love how CBC does that.
We drove down to the creek, I brought my coffee and our almond chocolate chip cookies with us (best healthy cookies ever!) and we walked along the beautiful sunny path. It was one of the moments where it really did feel good to be alive. I felt blessed and fortunate, and that's a really good way to feel.

Here is the recipe for these delicious cookies. I got it from Leanne. They are a healthy indulgence.

Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

2.5 cups of finely ground almonds (I pulse whole roasted almonds in my food processor-it's loud though!)

1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

.5 cups (or more if you like it) of semi sweet chocolate chips 

1/4 cup of maple syrup

In a mixing bowl blend the ground almonds, b.soda, cinnamon together. Slowly pour the maple syrup in and mix. It should hold together in a ball but slightly crumble apart. Add in the chocolate chips.
 Place formed balls on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, and "bake" for 5-7 mins at 350.

Really you aren't baking these, you are just toasting them. Pull them out, press down with a fork and let cool. They are amazing and gluten free!