late winter treasures

I forgot about my idea (about 2 years ago!) to post about monthly 'treasures' so I thought I would do one for this month.  

I am still trying to find my way back to self-time to take care of body and mind - meditation, mindfulness, and even just writing a bit in my journal.  One of my goals for 2011 is to create an alter near my meditation space so that I have special things nearby that might draw me more frequently to sit on my meditation pillow.  When I was thinking about posting about present treasures 2 years ago, I was practicing mindfulness both formally, through dedicated meditation time, and also just during everyday moments.  It takes work to do this and somehow, I have fallen out of this work lately.  Partly, I think it is because I have been in my brain so much lately, going from researching at work to researching for my dissertation.  When I get home, my head is so foggy that I can hardly do anything.  I do knit and there is a sweet mindfulness element in that.  My mood feels calm, and that is wonderful, and maybe I am being more mindful than I am giving myself credit...I am just noticing it for now...

Treasures lately:

lovely visit from jessie, including her yummy almost vegan cooking

cooking vegetarian chinese with my niece, who is an excellent cook!

playing with seneca in the beautiful whiteness

munchkins and there funny expressions!

random, quick snow

last weekend, our front lawn was showing.  the snow had melted completely and seneca was having fun with all the sticks that had been buried by the snow. i woke up at 6am on monday and it started snowing.  at 8, when i went out to find my car, about 5 inches of snow had fallen.  the sky cleared and there was all of this pretty, random snow in the trees. i clicked a few shots with my phone as i drove down our street, to go to work.

i think a little more of this wonderful, pretty whiteness will be fine with me.  then, i will throw myself into spring, gardening, ocean viewing...

this weekend...

• Making my first batch of kombucha - thanks to holly, she supplied the scobbie and the directions

• Reading about Julia Child and enjoying it immensely; also reading Proposals that Work (not as enjoyable)

• Enjoying a share of organic fruits and veggies

• Making protein snacks 

• A little knitting; hats for new baby girls

• Baking currant scones and carrot cake (no frosting) - using some yummy peach carrots

veggies make me happy

Last summer, I became a member of a CSA in my town.  This was my first CSA (community supported agriculture) experience and I absolutely loved the experience and being apart of the movement/farm! My town's CSA has been in existence for just over 10 years and we work with an organic farmer about an hour away.  The vegetables come in from June - November.

It was sad when our last delivery week came and went in late November.  Somehow, I recently got on a list for Purple Dragon, a organic veggie co-op type group.  It is not quite a CSA because they don't invest with just one farmer for a season.  Rather, it is a group of families, working together to buy organic food through various farmers all year long, and in the end, it is more affordable and they are supporting small farmers.  During the winter months, the food in not as local. However, the food is  always organic and local whenever possible.  I have been put on a list to receive a share when their deliveries have extras.

Today, I went for my second share pick up.  Just a town over, a few miles from my house, I walked into the backyard, equipped with the garage door security code.  Inside the garage, about 25 green bins, a clipboard, and directions.  I emptied out my designated bin into my bags, left my check, and closed the garage door.  There was something sweet about the process.  Even though I didn't actually interact with anyone, I was part of a movement with like-minded people and I liked it a lot!   Getting organic veggies in a way that supports each other, farmers, and the environment...makes me so happy!

Sweet potatoes, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, peach carrots, bananas, blueberries, apples, grapefruits, collard greens, lettuce...oh my.

{this moment}

Fridays inspired by SouleMama:
{this moment- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.}

Photo taken by dad. 

impromptu pizza party

On the way home from RI, we decided to stop off and visit with my bro and his little family.  This led to an impromptu pizza party before we headed back to the Jerz.  Kevin and Mike were in the kitchen with the oven at 450.  It wasn't quite like our pizza party in Italy.  For instance, we weren't on vacation near an olive grove and beautiful water, and ready to explore the heel of the boot.  But the pizza and family time was 'awesome' (as they say in RI).  It took my mind off my impending root canal!

My nephew, Orion, is in an adorable phase...sitting up all by himself and eating smashed up stuff and laughing out loud a lot!  I fed him some pears and I laughed at each bite.  He has a lot of faces, all precious.  I almost ate one of his cheeks!  They are difficult to resist!  There is seriously nothing like a baby's laugh out loud.  LOL!  Nothing as sweet!

You have to wait for the laugh, but it happens.  Orion was actually laughing at a photo of himself up on the huge Mac computer screen.  Apparently, he thought his photo was amusing. 

more dark chocolate

Donna made this amazingly fancy raspberry tart with 4 or so different layers!

I don't have the slightest interest in football or superbowl games, but I enjoy the gatherings that tend to happen around me. This year, we ended up down the street at Auntie Donna's.  I think she cooked for days!  The peace tart was only the end to a delicious meal.

mexican chocolate fudge

dark chocolate gives us energy right??

Dark Chocolate Fudge with cinnamon and cayenne pepper

{this moment}

Fridays inspired by SouleMama:
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

i think i can...i think i can

My thinking brain has been focused on my dissertation when I am not working.  As a result, I still haven't sat down and contemplated my intentions for 2011.  I guess my downtime has just been a little less than productive.  I did buy a new book, Crazy Sexy Diet, which has gotten a ton of press lately.  The author has stage 4 cancer, a very rare cancer, and has been stable for 8 or so years, so she is a nice reminder that stable is good, no, Great!

I was looking through the book and felt inspired to try a green smoothie.  I have read a lot about green smoothies and juicing.  I used to juice all the time but at the moment, juicing does not agree with my chemo meds so I think smoothies are a little more tolerable.  I made one this weekend and it was quite delicious.

I have fallen off the 'kick cancer's ass' diet lately...just a little.  I have been a little more 'flexible' with snacking out - mainly with white flours and sugar.  Maybe it is the winter and the lack of farm fresh veggies? I try to bake whole grains at home, with less sugar and no white flour.  But I don't always have time lately.  Then, I am at work and it is 3 o'clock and I am tired and I crave a baked good and I don't have a homemade one from home.  Starbucks is right there, outside my office building and across the street...marble pound calls my name...

So anyway, back to an intention...they say green smoothies (and juicing) really helps with energy.  Since I am working, writing a dissertation, and trying to celebrate life and stable cancer with Mike, one of my intentions this year is to try to find healthy ways to naturally increase my energy.  I will start with trying out some green smoothies for breakfast!

Here is one recipe in case you want to experiment!