Dreamer.

i'm a dreamer. there are no two ways about it. all day long i float in and out of my secret life of daydreams. ideas, longings, plans for my future, wishes, impossible wishes, confusing wishes. a perfect world, whimsical places and spaces, magical moments that are unrealistic, but beautiful. and all night i do the same.

it's 11:13 when my head hits the pillow, and my eyes refuse to shut. my imagination has just ignited--this is when i dream the most. if there are special moments of the day, this is when i relive them. if i have an idea for a story, it gets processed and my mind runs away with it. when i've mused up with an idea for a quaint little bakery or my perfect tree house, this is when it turns from an idea to having every little detail worked out. i dream so much of my life in the future. i chose to keep away from dating at a young age, but i can't help but imagine what it will be like. what he may be like. this is the hour i get to spend in my little utopia when all of these dreams proceed to wander in and out of my mind until i am contented.

 in addition to dreaming, i also love to pray while i am looking back on my day in thankfulness. thanking God for everything i have been given, asking for help, and praying for those around me who are struggling. because there are so many people in my life, at least, who could use so much prayer. and yet, i don't always remember to pray for them. maybe i say that i'm praying for them and i have... once or twice, but not consistently. so when that happens, this is the time i spend with God, pouring out my heart to Him and thanking Him for His marvelous love.

and when all of this is said and done, somewhere in the middle of a dream, i drift off to a place where i have no handle on my dreams, but they carry me away until morning. . . when i start all over again.


what do you dream about?


Love and hugs,

the moonlight dreamer
lindsey lou

{p.s. this was my 99th post!!}

A Chocolate Souffle for Lou {a Guest Post by Cindi}

 I thought I would dedicate a souffle to Lou. I know Lou has done a post on a delicious souffles she has made in the past. I also know she loves souffles, as many of you might know by reading her previous posts. So...I thought I might include this recipe, because a girl can never have too many souffle recipes. 

Individual Chocolate Soufflés

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon powdered instant coffee

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1.     Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2.     Grease and sugar eight 6-ounce ramekins.

3.     In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.

4.     Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5.     Scald milk. Remove from heat and add powdered coffee, stirring until dissolved.

6.     Stir together flour, cocoa and baking powder. Add alternately with milk mixture to butter mixture. Beat 1 minute on medium.

7.     Divide batter evenly among ramekins.

8.     Place ramekins in 2 8-inch square pans. Pour hot water in bottom of pans to 1/8 inch deep and place pans in oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9.     Remove pans from oven and let ramekins stand in water for 5 minutes.

10.   Remove ramekins from water and let cool slightly.

11.   You can serve in dish or invert onto dessert plates.

12.   For topping: beat whipping cream and powdered sugar in small mixing bowl until stiff and spoon onto warm soufflés.

This is how I came to love souffles. It was upon arriving home from a long day, I felt a craving for chocolate.As I scanned through one of my favorite food blogs, I  finally spotted what fit my craving. A chocolate souffle. It was the first time that I had ever eaten or baked a chocolate souffle, I can undoubtedly say it was the most delectable thing ever. As I watched the sun disappear into the sky, I slowly savored on the last bit of souffle,  hoping to prolong the moment. It  made me itch for Paris all the more. 

-Cindi

{About the writer- I love the Lord with all my heart, and without Him I would be nothing.  I am.. an amateur photographer. Fifteen years of age. Lover of writing. Dreamer of adventuring to Paris. Pianist. And most of all, a girl trying to serve the Lord in every aspect of life.}

relish.

Today I have encountered some simple, lovely, priceless things that I am relishing. 

>> the unbeatable expressions of a one-year-old <<

>> the sight of a two-year-old boy pleading with a little girl in the most adorable way <<

>> running in the wind, and letting my wavy hair get caught up and tangled in it <<

>> getting an hour of talk-time with one of the greatest people i know<<

>> seeing the crescent moon << 

>> teaching my dog how to play soccer <<

>> hanging alone at the house, looking like a total dork, and not caring <<

>> getting priceless pieces of wisdom from the above mentioned great person i know <<

what did you relish today?

Love, hugs, and priceless laughs,

Lou

It Was One of Those Days.

It was one of those days where the creative itch hit us all, and having the flexible schedule of homeschooling showed itself to be most appealing. It was one of those days where in an instant, papers, scissors, glue, sparkles, buttons, stickers, felt, and rickrack were strewn about the table, leaving no space uncovered. A day where the three of us {Libby, my mama, and I} let our creative spirits loose and began creating Valentine's decorations of all kinds. Glittery garlands, trees with little hearts hanging on it, and tiny candle arrangements. 

It was one of those days that was full of daydreaming as usual. A day with fishtails. A day with writing class and seeing friends, working out, and listening to an amazing speech on abortion. It was a speech that made me think and fight for what is right, if only I can find a way.

Today was a day of being filled with pain and joy, and having light bulb moments and being utterly confused with myself. This is the day that the Lord has made, and I have rejoiced and been glad in it. Finally, to put a good end to it, I shall set out a saucer of milk and a plate of graham crackers and snack cozily in my bed, as the creative adventurers listen to The Hunger Games together. Again.

Love, a hug, and fishtail curls,

Lindsey Nicole

{Lately Lovely}

my perfect pancake- slightly burnt. 

half-face portraits

chinese pizza

valentine doodles

adventures

perfect breakfasts


What's been lovely in your life lately?



Love and a hug,

Lindsey Lou

adventures at golden hour.

{forget the capital letters.}

once upon a time there were four friends who decided to go on an adventure at golden hour and blow glitter in the air. so they packed their knapsack with cookies of many kinds and a canteen of water and hit the trails... well, the sidewalks. they walked and walked, passing a castle and a construction site, then entered a wood. shortly they encountered yeller and yankee, dogs of the forest... or rather dogs passing through the forest with their owners. 

shortly they encountered yeller and yankee, dogs of the forest... or rather dogs passing through the forest with their owners. finally they reached their destination: a lake, a hill, and some prairie. (aka ground of inspiration.)

they found a perfect picnicking place and ate all sixteen of their cookies, while freezing in the wind. therefore, the picnic blanket, which was actually a beach towel, doubled as a cloak.

after eating, it was time to galavant across the fields and skip to the top of the hill.

finally, when golden hour came, they felt they should add to the magic of their happy place by blowing glitter in the smiling sunshine. and they had one of the most magical times of their lives.

 and when the day was over and done, the photographer, who was in two of 118 of the photos, had produced two of her favorite photos yet.  (the last two :)) and she didn't mind at all because the joy of the day and of her work was so bountiful.

--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--..__..--

the simple joys of life are manifesting themselves to me daily. getting to spend time with friends, nice weather, growing new friendships, finding marvelous music, the beauty of everything at golden hour, laughter of children, a paintbrush in my hand, dreams. every little thing adds up to make me more thankful of how blessed i am when i reflect on the day.

of course, life is busy (especially with seussical, dance, babysitting, and now dinner theatre), but i think it makes me more grateful for the times when life is simply peaceful. life is good. God is great.



love and hugs,

lindsey lou

In which I share my Pinterest finds...

Being a Saturday and all, I had to waste some time on Pinterest...

Italy. Love. I was actually discussing this with one of my besties today. 

macaroons. Need I say more? 

charming.

yes.

haha! She's so cute!

I kinda want this for my sketchbook. anyone with me?


Happy Saturday!!


Much Love and a hug,

Lindsey Lou

Entries!

These are my entries for clara's photo contest! Today is the last day to enter (sorry, I forgot about this post),  but you should go check out her blog!

Sincerely,

with Love,

Lindsey Lou the frog bird jungle citizen

I have my plans... but I wonder if God has others...

We all love to dream. I know I do. 

I dream and plan for my future. I lie awake in bed, staring out the window, under the full moon, thinking. just thinking. And dreaming about my future.

Then I make a little plan.

  Let's see... Well, first I'll go to college and study art, I think. And a little bit later, I'll meet some amazing man. Then I think about that man, who he may be, what he may be like. I want to marry someone like this...I think to myself, as my mind begins to wander. After I meet him, we'll date each other, grow in love, and someday get married. It seems simple enough. And then I will travel the world with Celia and Adelle, and of course they'll get married too, so the six of us can take off for the world together. 

As I get carried away, I think of the cute little house we'll live in, being poor, newlyweds, but having just enough to keep us afloat. And loving each other so much that we won't even notice. I think of having a family-- a big one, and a house full of lively children, who I'll teach at home. I ponder the memories we'll make, the laughter that will fill our home, and everything in between.

I fall asleep, and tuck away my plan for a little while.

But today I was thinking. Maybe God has different plans.

What if, before I even went to college, He called me to missions?

 What if He called me to singleness, to serve His kingdom somewhere, and I never married? 

And what if I never had my own family?

What if I didn't get to go to London, Paris, and Venice, but in stead was called to serve in Africa?

What if I wasn't given the cute little house I want, but rather a missionary's home or a simple home in a third world country?

What if I didn't have the memories and laughter of a family, but in stead had the memories and laughter of the children of His kingdom?

I don't know what the Lord has for me. I don't know if any of these things are in store for my life-- in either list. And I began to wonder, would I follow the Lord, and do what He called me to, even if it meant that I didn't get to live the life I've dreamed of? All I know is that God has an amazing plan, and that however it may work out, I need to follow Him in it. Because I don't write my story; He does.

In other news, I have two finds for the day:

A question-a-day 5-year journal-- I'm in love! 

And a yellow and cream striped sweater... you know me and my sweater faddish. ;)

(sorry, all these pictures are blurry and bad... they looked better on the review screen than on the computer.)

Love, hugs, & macaroons to ya,

Lindsey Lou

Lately {Lovely}

Oh, hello there!

blurry. interesting. me.

we are terrible dog trainers.

this is my sketch for a watercolor...

it came from this picture.

And... today I had my first latte. Ever. And it was so good.

My daddy preached today, and we saw some friends at lunch who were passing through on their way to a wedding. Lib and I made a rope ladder, and mom and I sketched. Cam made dinner, and now we're gathered in the family room to play our new favorite game: dutch blitz. It has been a good day indeed. Someday I'll write more than this. 

Love and hugs,

Lou

I can feel myself coming down with something, I don't have many words in me, and I have random pictures, which you wouldn't see unless I made this into an almost-wordless photo post. So that's what I'm doing, y'all.

my "fancy" Christmas morning drink (aka my favorite stuff ever!)

little blogger

candlelight art

breakfast out: chocolate cranberry scones and... soy milk. Libby loves it.

o r e o s  and  m i l k .

dragon cupcakes. Why dragon? I don't know.

fairytales and a sketchbook.


Much Love and many hugs,

Lindsey Lou