What I'm watching

This was one of those random library finds that turns out to be a total gem. Wow. Drama, surprise love story, history, beyond beautiful setting in the mountains....my kind of movie. Huge thumbs up.

Snowy night

This time last year we had the great snow, but I was in bed post-surgery...unable to walk. Fast forward and we've got a snowy night....not a blizzard, but lovely nonetheless. I'm gratefully mobile and thinking that I need to do some shoveling tomorrow morning.

Reminds me of so many happy memories as a kid in Michigan...snow angels, snowmen and playing with my sisters and friends.

Family Draw Night

I'm always on the lookout for cool things to do with Miss G, not to mention to continue to cultivate and nuture my own art. I stumbled onto this fabulous idea for a family draw night that nutures the collective creative spirit.

Love it.

http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2009/05/rainy-day-play.html

Merry Christmas to you

Wherever this day finds you, may the special blessings be upon you and yours.

"What came to be through Him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-18)

Started the day with Mass and Christmas carols. I am relaxing with la familia...We shall be eating the now famous lamb shanks a la James Oliver, delish cranberry conserve (with agave), soy egg nog and watching a movie later on tonight. Right now the lamb is roasting away. Time to buy a Christmas gift online quickly.

Boy oh boy

It's cool to rediscover an author after years apart and realize that your love burns as bright as it did when you were a kid. The author that I've found again is Roald Dahl.

He of Willy Wonka and James and Giant Peach.

I've found his adult oeuvre and am finding his wry compassionate wit to be as endearing as it was when I was a little girl. I'm enchanted all over again, but now by the real man behind the stories.

My recent read is the autobiographical work Boy, and I sped through it in a day. There is a laugh out loud moment that is priceless, more so because it truly happened. Thanks to my earlier post, my mom is also enchanted (she got Boy from the library - lucky me) I promise you won't be disappointed if you search out these slim and funny books for grown-ups.

Friday dose of hope

So the work week went out very nicely. Ate fab tapas at Toro Bravo, which is always good for OMG food moments that are worth every penny. The winter squash tapas was incredible, and the very genuinely nice waitress provided the ingredient list:

• Squash
• Cream
• Carmelized onions
• Harissa

http://www.torobravopdx.com/

I am going to replicate this at home, minus the cream. Maybe use Tofutti sour cream instead. We shall see how it comes out. I know that the cream is probably what makes it so decadent, but cream is not good for moi.

Accompanied by 2 of my favorite people saw Invictus....which was so inspirational and fantastic. I love seeing a film which documents hopeful moments and real people who are remarkable. That I'd been to South Africa and seen Robben Island myself connected all the dots. Confirms what I already knew about Mandela. He's one amazing spiritual leader, not just a political one. Take aways: forgiveness is power. Lead by example.

Trailers confirmed that Hollywood is not really into telling the hopeful stories of remarkable brave people. Clint Eastwood is a happy exception. I think he's trying to make up for all those Dirty Harry films.

A little bit of zen

My week has been good. And intense. To help me relax and stretch out I took a lovely yoga class. Candlelit and delicious.

http://www.mamazenpdx.com/

I got a sweet Christmas package that reminded me that love and hope are what the season brings you when you least expect it.

Merry Christmas to you.

Gratitude

These past few days have been filled with friends. Combine that with a new book I'm listening to about gratitude and the Advent daily reflections and I just come up realizing how much I have to be grateful for....so many blessings.

For my family. For my honey and reinta. Who teach me about lessons about love that still need learning.
For my health. Amen to walking, dancing, and all the things I wasn't doing a year ago today.
For my friends, who fill my life with celebration, comfort, a hand, a shoulder and a good laugh. All depending on the day and person.
For a good job and health benefits. I never take such a thing for granted in these days.
For a safe and lovely home to rest my head, and abundant food.
For peace in my heart.

Gracias y amen.

More music

Pandora unearths yet another gem.

A band called Bacilos that I love...their music makes my heart happy. Lead singer sounds like Silvio Rodriquez, one of my favorites. Bummer is that the band disbanded. Sniff.

Lovely singer

Pandora reveals fabulous musicians I've never heard about....like Rayito.

Enjoy.

Back to the past

I'm in the throes of 2 books right now at two ends of the historical novel spectrum.

One is "The Other Boleyn Girl," which explores the intrigue of Henry VIII's court through the eyes of Ann Boleyn's sister (who had an affair with the King before he romanced and married her sister). It's a rich tapestry, full of heartbreak, drama, and real history...all embedded in a love story, one that was lost in the history books amidst all the wives of Henry and beheadings. I'm listening to it in the car and wish that a long road trip was in my future. It is fantastic and a perfect read for an addict of the Tudor's television series. I am totally addicted, btw. One clear subtext of the book and series is that it sucks to be female back in those dark days. Even a rich and beautiful woman was nothing more than chattel. This is no exaggeration.

If you want to learn more, here is the author's very compleat website:

http://www.philippagregory.com/

The other audio book I'm listening to is "Sarah's Key," which I listen to as my bedside listening. It tells the tales of the actual roundup of French Jews in Paris through the eyes of a Jewish girl alternating with that of a contemporary American journalist living in Paris who is digging into this real historical event. You sense that these two lives are going to meet in the middle somewhere. I'm waiting to see where. It is a bit jarring to jump between the Jewish girl's story, as she is fighting for her life, and the American who has suffered very little by such standards. A cheating husband seems paltry compared to genocide. I come away not liking the journalist very much and wanting to find out more about the little girl.

I realize how much I love reading about the lives of women, stories rooted in historical events.....

Gardening in December

Well there is no planting going on, but I did get in some quality time with cleaning up the frost-bitten plants that need to go. Dahlias, sunflower stalks and the like. There was sweeping and general tidying up, plus repotting houseplants. Restocked the bird feeders and cleaned the birdbath, to keep all those lovely creatures going during this cold snap.

It all looks very nice, and oh so satisfying.

I just need to take a picture!

Appreciating

The question of looking at the cup as half full or empty is buzzing in my head more than I want at times. If sadness is an occasional companion, gratitude is the stealthy one coming behind, nudging.

Advent is our time for reflection, and my mom's gift of the Advent Little Book has given me daily scriptures that touch so close to home it zings. Having faith and trusting that the path given is the one the Lord has chosen. Elizabeth. Gabriel.

So there you have it. I pray for faith, for comfort, in gratitude for blessings I recognize and those I don't really appreciate enough, truth be told. What do you pray for? Do you pray?

Sadness

I guess there is no way around missing people you love. I feel just slammed by this sadness, and it just doesn't seem to let up. All the distractions in the world can't erase missing loved ones or provide an adequate substitute.

I could blog about activities and projects, books, films. You name it. I could fill the space nicely and breezily. The sadness will remain.

To those who I'm missing...

I love each of you lots.

Happy Thanksgiving

So the holiday of Thanksgiving is a complicated one. Anything that involves U.S. history is usually more nuanced that meets the eye. I think this clip captures a lot of it with dark humor.

Enjoy the holiday.

Art in Oaxaca

Oaxaca has so many beautiful things about it....incredible coast line. Colonial towns. Fabulous food. Mountains. One of the things I love about this state is that it is full of art and artists. Whole towns of artisans. The town of Octolan is the birthplace of famous artist Rodolfo Morales, who painted these columns and the beautiful mural. In the same town there is a trio of ceramic artists that create beautiful clay figures (including this couple of calaveras)...the Aguilar sisters. We got to visit their workshops on the way out of town....Then we visited a village full of wood carvers that made magical figures out of copal wood. I learned about naguals, and that each of us has an animal spirit that is linked to the day of our birth.

This is a place that feeds your spirit with beautiful art, made by humble people.

Wildlife on the coast

Beautiful wild Ventanilla beach...,no hotels!

Crocodile in an enclosure...but there were plenty in the river too!

This is a marine turtle.

This little island is a bird nesting area.


River full of crocodiles....

While on the coast we took a couple of fun excursions...one on a boat to see marine life (turtles and dolphins were all over the place), and another was an afternoon visiting the community of Ventanilla, a tiny coastal ecotourism cooperative that was one of the most impressive projects I've ever seen (that includes projects I've seen during my Peace Corps years!).

Market day

Spice and chiles for sale....
Older gentleman enjoying his pulque in a jicara gourd cup. Glass bottles hold mezcal.

Amazing empanada filled with yellow mole chicken. One of the best things I ate in Oaxaca, and one of the cheapest.
Proud pulque and tepache vendor in Ocotlan, Oaxaca

Here are more sights from Oaxaca. Our last few days were spent visiting the small villages around the capital city of Oaxaca with a fabulous guide, Jaime. Ocotlan had its market on Friday, which was fantastic. The village plaza area was packed full of people selling everything from saddles, pottery, empanadas, underwear, pots, and chiles. I LOVE Mexican markets...the energy, the crafts, the food, the people.

I got to taste pulque for the first time. As well as tepache...these are ancient fermented beverages made from the maguey plant (that also makes mezcal). I actually liked them both, a surprise.

I came home with dried chiles to make mole, jamaica flower (to make a tea in the summer), as well as chocolate, and avocado leaves (which add something magical to black beans).

A journey remembered

View from Arigalan hotel


This trip has so many highlights that I'll blog about them individually....each trip to Mexico opens up new experiences (both good and bad). I learn things about myself along the way......the way that I encounter poverty is always one that I face and confront. It is always hard, no matter how many times I go. You won't see any of that captured in photos. I learn more about the cultures, the history, the incredible diversity of this country....

So I'll start with one of the best parts of the vacation...a relaxed week at the beach. A week of wearing my bathing suit and sarong daily (and putting on flip flops to stroll to the palapa to eat our fresh seafood meals facing the ocean). We stayed up on a hotel that faces beautiful views of San Angustinillo beach, and we were a steep hillside walk to that sweet place. The other nearby beaches were Mazunte and Rinconcito. These are sleepy tiny beach towns, with light tourist infrastructure....very much still Mexican fishing towns. In fact, Fede hit it off with them, which meant he got invited to spend a morning with them fishing...and brought back a delicious fish for our dinner.

Beautiful Oaxaca

It´s sunny and glorious here in Oaxaca right now, and I´ve come down from the mountain to a cybercafe to share a few highlights of this trip...so far. First off, it is another world from life in Portland in almost every way. Rural, communal, traditional, warm-tropical....It was emotional to see family members reconnect after so many years of separation.....we are so happy to be here.

Yesterday we hiked to the corn field or milpa, and people maintain a way of life that is literally ancient. That kids have MP3 players is a bit odd, but somehow it all works. Yesterday we lost electricity, and I drew portraits by candlelight to great acclaim. It was such fun to get immediate and positive feedback as I quickly churned out 4 fast portraits. Good practice for the art classes I am missing in PDX.

The Day of the Dead altars are in every home, no matter how humble, and tomorrow we head to the coast for more sunshine and the sea.....

Sorry that pictures will have to get posted later. I try to travel light and not drag around too much in the way of electronics. My travel motto is to blend in...which means I don´t snap as much as other tourists would.

Full fall

This is my favorite time of the year. Ok, summer is my favorite, quickly followed by fall, which is almost tied by spring.

So I haven't been blogging, because I've been having so much fun. We've gone to see the salmon spawn on the Sandy River, picked and carved pumpkins on Sauvie Island, walked the corn maize at night, kept up with dancing, drawing and yoga. Throw in a Thai massage....you get the picture.

I'm getting ready to head to Oaxaca for the Day of the Dead, visit Fede's family, and spend a week on a beach.....hot sunshine is about what I need right now. I've packed a bunch of books, a sketch pad, and the desire to try to do less and just be.

You might even get a blog post now and then.

Stay tuned for the adventures to come.....

Clueless at Target

Ok, so I know corporate America is not exactly a bastion of intelligence or integrity, but this takes offensiveness to a new low....

An illegal alien costume is on sale at Target's web site.

Really.

Click on this link to see the costume, which I hope the idiots at their HQ yank from the site before they have some boycott on their hands.

Pendejos.

http://www.target.com/Illegal-Alien-Adult-Costume-Size/dp/B002EIY1G0/ref=sc_qi_detaillink

Boss day

Did you know it was National Boss Day? Well, my staff got me a very funny card and signed it with really nice sentiments. I figure it was sincere, since if you don't like your boss there is no need to go the trouble of buying a card for Boss Day and taking the trouble to write a personal message....you could just skip the card or scrawl your name. Right?

It was a very sweet start to my work day.

I joked with them that everyday is Boss's Day..ha, ha.

For good and for bad stuff...the buck stops here.

I love my job. I love the people I work with.....even the icky stuff is interesting in a crazy way.

I am very fortunate.

What I'm reading

I've loved Roald Dahl for many years, and now I'm reading his adult memoir of his time as a WWII fighter pilot....he manages to weave humor, social commentary, travel writing into one slim fast read. Love "Going solo." Fascinating fast read.

Big thumbs up!

p.s. he wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"!

El monte y el rio - poema de Pablo Neruda

En mi patria hay un monte.
En mi patria hay un río.

Ven conmigo.

La noche al monte sube.
El hambre baja al río.

Ven conmigo.

¿Quiénes son los que sufren?
No sé, pero son míos.

Ven conmigo.

No sé, pero me llaman
y me dicen "Sufrimos".

Ven conmigo.

Y me dicen: "Tu pueblo,
tu pueblo desdichado,
entre el monte y el río,

con hambre y con dolores,
no quiere luchar solo,
te está esperando, amigo".

Oh tú, la que yo amo,
pequeña, grano rojo
de trigo,
será dura la lucha,
la vida será dura,
pero vendrás conmigo.

Inspiring

This is a powerful story about the impact a book and a library (even a poor one) can have on a community.....

Enjoy!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/251737/wed-october-07-2009-william-kamkwamba

A moment in the garden

So this is actually a moment in July, not October....but it was so pretty I had to post it!

Drawing class

After many years of not drawing, it's been like coming to visit an old and beloved friend who you had a falling out with over some ridiculous thing. The ridiculous thing being my neurotic drive for perfection, which can set up any artist for a path to disappointment and harshness...which kills the joy and creativity. The other ridiculous thing was thinking that just because I couldn't earn a decent salary doing art that I should stop doing it. Crazy, stupid.

It's been a big step to return to this old friend. To find a class, sign up. It feels so right to be a studio, surrounded by easels and artists. A whole building of people all devoted to art.

Yesterday in class the familiar craziness crept in as I stole glances at other students' work and started to compare mine to theirs, coming up short mainly. "Oh, look at how cool that turned out." "Wow, what an interesting way to capture that..." "Why does yours look like crap?" I work at shutting off those voices almost as much as I do on the actually drawing itself.

Speaking of which, I did a good job in class with my drawings. We did blind contour, gesture, and contour drawings...one after the other, timed....It was fun, very different than how I normally would draw, and experimental. When we put up our stuff on the wall for critique one of the students shot me an admiring smile and told me one of my contour drawings was good. The teacher complimented both of my drawings...He said I'm good at creating an interesting composition that uses the space well, and I did a good gesture drawing too. I felt....like a million bucks by the end of class. I smiled as I lugged my stuff to the car. Artists need to work out just to carry the gear around.

Weekend of fun

We lucked out on a sunny weekend, which meant heading out to Oxbow Park for a hike and some gardening (time to harvest pumpkins!). Garden shots are courtesy of Gladys.

What I'm reading

This book came recommended to me by Gladys, who raved about this book so much I went out and bought a copy, sight unseen. She's got great taste in books...it is a beautifully illustrated and evocative story, a Caldecott winner. We've been reading it together this weekend and enjoying it immensely.

What a treat that the book recommendations are going in both directions.

What I'm watching

A co-worker recommended these wonderful movies....lots of good dance numbers, love stories, fab dance scenes, drama, and happy endings. What is not to like?

What I'm watching

This is a lovely movie about friendship made for kids and set in Cuba. Big thumbs. Very interested to see if Miss G likes it.

Creativity

If there is any theme or thread running through this blog one is about beauty. I try to share things I think are beautiful....people, art, plants...celebrating what is beautiful and good about life. A diary that others can dip into.

For those who know me, I have long loved art (drawing, painting, pottery, etc.) since I was a child. In my ongoing effort to walk the path of beauty I (finally) enrolled in an art class. A drawing class to be precise. I scoped out every continuing ed art program and found one at the Pacific NW College of Art. Tonight was the first class, and it was fabulous. It has been YEARS since I was in a drawing class, and the teacher exceeded my expectations and memories. He got at the emotional side of creating art, the harsh inner critic many battle, and ways to work around or through those obstacles.

I walked out of the class smiling to myself. My creative self.

This is going to be an interesting and fun journey.

Cocina veracruzana

Mexican food is incredible in its rich diversity, and it's too bad that most people in the US think of cheesy enchiladas or dry taco shells filled with ground meat as the best that country offers their bellies. Each region (and sometimes towns) have their own regional dishes and is defined by the local ingredients. At its most authentic it is very healthy, although you can eat at a US Mexican restaurant and probably only get a small side of lettuce (if you are lucky).

I've had the wonderful chance to travel the breadth of the state of Veracruz, a long narrow state with a coast that faces the Caribbean, mountains with coffee and a whole town full of brujos or witches, and beautiful lakes.

The food of Veracruz is as amazing as the state it reflects - a lot of seafood, a cultural blend of Caribbean, African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences. One of my all time favorite Mexican cookbooks is Zarela's Veracruz, which is part travelogue and 100% cookbook.

Many blog posts back I talked about getting two plant starts from a nursery via mail...the hoja santa or holy leaf, which is a popular herb in southern Mexico. No idea what makes it holy, but I suspect there is a good story behind the name. The 2 plants are happily growing the patio, and I finally harvest a few leaves for a Zarela recipe "Pampano en Acuyo." Actually it translates in my kitchen to Red Snapper in Acuyo or Hoja Santa. In Oaxaca it is called Hierba Santa. So many names for a very pretty culinary herb. This easy fish dish is wrapped in foil and chopped up leaves, which are eaten like a green. You add in some onion, garlic, olive oil and jalapeno chiles. Zarela advises only making this dish if you have fresh hoja santa, as there is no substitute for this aromatic herb.

Another factoid about Veracruz for your next Trivial Pursuit game, did you know that jalapeno chiles come from Xalapa, a lively university town in the center of the state?

Fun stuff

So after having a particularly tough 2008 I decided very intentionally to make 2009 a particularly good one. I can't undo or erase the hard things, but I can certainly focus on the good things in life....my family, my health, creativity, and living in such a beautiful part of the world.

Yesterday was one of those days packed with good things. We started out by trying something different and new - kayaking in Scapposse Bay area. It was only my second time kayaking, and Federico's first time. He is a total natural in a kayak, which kinda of surprised me. I struggled a bit figuring out how to steer the darn thing, but a patient guide helped me learn a "rudder stroke." That did the trick. It was beautiful to be on the water, we saw great blue herons flying overhead....and it was definitely a good workout. We are jazzed to do it again and bring Gladys along. We stopped by a cute roadhouse to eat lunch. Later on we got to see a beautiful performance of poet Cindy Gutierrez (no relation) who channeled Aztec poets with her own poems accompanied to music on traditional Indian instruments.

We ended the day at Common Ground for a soak in the hot tubs under the stars and sauna. It was so relaxing and nice to just hang out without having to do anything....just be.

Garden in bloom

Every year I plant new flower seeds, and every year there is some lovely new delight (and a few disappointments). Here are the fantastic cosmos that were planted....love the fuchsia color. They are so bright and tall you see them 1/2 down the block.

Here are some of the green tomatoes (planted by a bird, not by me). These tomatoes will eventually find their way into a can, as I learned to do last night. Those pretty purple asylum were also planted by seed this year, and this a dependable favorite that I always want in the garden. Pretty, fragrant, and attracts beneficial insects.

Blue ribbon

So as a die hard feminist, who would have thought I would take up canning in midlife? Not me.

With then again, I didn't see myself as a gardener either, or stepmom...life is full of good surprises and unplanned gifts.

I took a fun canning class today through the City of Portland. It was held at Grand Central Bakery, and we got to can pickled green tomatoes, which is great...because I have a fair amount of them right now, and not enough hot sunshine to ripen anything. Besides learning the how to of canning, we got to eat yummy turkey and cream cheese sandwiches featuring the pickled tomatoes, plus a delicious bundt cake made with apple butter, which we also learned how to make....

The teacher held up my can as a "blue ribbon example" with genuine pleasure to the class, due to the distribution of liquid and veg. I felt like a first grader with a gold star from the teacher....

Update

Well, the yellowjackets are officially gone. It was rather exciting to have someone in a full beekeeping suit in the front-yard at night with a large industrial vaccum sucking up yellowjackets. I learned that yellowjackets nest in the spring and like any small hole in the ground for nesting purposes. Note to self, fill up any holes by next spring-time!

The other update is about my foot. There has been some turning point in the healing process. I noticed at Kahneta when bounding up the water slide staircase barefoot over and over and running after Gladys....yes, running. None of it hurt. My foot felt normal. I started zumba dance classes on Tuesday, and ditto...no pain. It was far different when I was taking the same classes 3 months ago. Plus during cool down I'm now able to balance on the surgical foot alone, which I couldn't do before. I was even doing some of the jumping steps, and no still no pain.

All I can say is YEAH!!

Really smart approach

Garden invaders

I have been waxing poetic about the joys of pollinators in the garden all season long, right? Now I get to face the dark side of pollination. A nest of yellowjackets has invaded the front-garden bed....

I discovered their nest when planting up all the winter garden veg starts, and I was digging around for a place to stick a kale plant when I noticed a few bees swarming up angrily. Then I had one who was clearly angry and flying around me....I backed up and thought it would go away, which it didn't. Then it landed on my wrist and bit me. Painful and scary....like someone hitting you when you weren't expecting it. I yelped and ran, because the bugger wasn't dead (sign that it isn't a bee), but was coming back for more. At first I thought that we could co-habitate, but I realize that these insects are agressive and occupying primo real estate in the front yard, where we walk all the time. Where I'd like to safely plant more plants.

So now the removal strategy kicks in. I've found a local bee expert who will come in and take them out without chemicals, and he arrives tomorrow night. I find this very exciting and interesting (and also annoying). Stay tuned for more updates and maybe pictures.

A weekend to remember

As we gird ourselves for the rainy months to come, we are taking full advantage of the glorious days of fall that Oregon provides. This weekend was one of those....

We headed east to Kahneeta Resort, located on the Warms Springs Indian Reservation in the high desert of central Oregon. This is our second trip, after a equally lovely September weekend last year. Note to self - this is worth starting a family tradition. Their web site is fun, since it offers a pool cam......

http://kah-nee-ta.com/

The trip takes you through the Mount Hood National Forest, which is beautiful and worth a visit all on its own. Then the scenery changes altogether -- sage, juniper, mesas, and wild horses.

So many highlights:

Horseback riding on Sunday morning
Swimming in warm water from mineral springs
The fantastic twisting water slides that Gladys finally got me to go up (I adored it and somehow my fear of highs was nowhere to be found!)
Being able to run and play and tag w/o any foot pain
Roasting marshmallows over an open fire
Sleeping in a tee pee
Visiting the fantastic museum in Warm Springs
Getting to be around lots of indigenous people who run the resort....Native people are alive and well....
Getting a sunburn in September!

Using up pears

Our very sweet neighbor and my sis gifted us a lot of pears. This means that I got into action with recipes. I've got a fabulous one from New Seasons that has used up all of my sister's pears...Gluten Free Crisp. It is easy, fast, and delicious. She loved it, and so did Fede.

1 cup of oats
1 cup of GF flour mix
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of chopped nuts
1/2 stick of butter cut up in pieces
pinch of sea salt
2 lbs of your favorite fruit, chopped up small
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 t of nutmeg
greased baking pan that can hold the fruit

Mix all the dry ingredients well and then add in butter and crumble up with your clean hands. Sprinkle onto the chopped fruit (which is laid out in the baking pan). Bake at 375 until bubbling and yummy.

Eat with vanilla ice cream.

Wow.

Garden update

September is a really good month in the garden....lots of blooming and harvesting going on. As a lover of all things floral, here are 2 of my favorite things in the garden right now. The "Don Juan" climbing rose is not quite a year old, and look how tall and lovely it is. The roses last a long time, and they smell lovely.

The dahlias are a little weird this year, as they have done this odd thing where they dip into a deep V shape, rather than growing straight up. I also got more foliage than flowers. I have no idea why, and I'm not fussing too much because look at the awesome flowers I'm getting! See how the flower is so close to the ground? I've got ground-cover dahlias this year.

What I'm listening to

I adore Marta Gomez, a Colombian singer who uses traditional melodies and instrumentation with the most beautiful lyrics, which are out of this world. I admit, this song is sad...but so lovely it is a sweet sadness.

Christ in action

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112679029

As a Christian I'm always moved when I see people living the Word in action. I'm not particularly impressed with sermons or speeches (even though Obama's speeches do impress me) when it comes to God.

Walk the walk is my theory when it comes to religion.

So here is a moving story about a man who ministers to people in an airport....I've spent my fair time in airports around the hemisphere and never had the pleasure to run into such a man (and fortunately never been in need of help during a journey).

Heath s/care

So I've been rather quiet about the political craziness that has overtaken the nation around health care. I don't know that I can add much more to the conversation that hasn't been said.

I do want to share a smart and funny music video that says a lot...with music. Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/user/paulhipp

What I'm reading

I've been exploring Buddhism, dipping into books. I've just started a wonderful book "Anger" by Vietnamese monk Thich Nant Hahn. As someone who struggles with moments of fierce anger, I find this approach of compassion towards oneself as fascinating and tough.

What I'm loving about this book is the way the author uses the metaphor of gardening. Anger is like kitchen scraps that you can turn into compost to enrich the garden....it is not bad, but needs to be used appropriately to enrich and enlighten our lives.

He taps into the need to have awareness and mindfulness about the daily things in our lives...eating, for example. That is an area I struggle with, always moving in a rush through a meal. Hahn talks about taking 50 bites of food to really really savor and mindfully eat. 50 BITES.

Little moments of argh or ah

I do have a little garden notebook, made of paper, that I tote around to nurseries and gardening workshops. In my fit of seed planting I neglected to review my notes from the fall/winter gardening class. Alas, I read that lettuce doesn't usually make through a hard frost. There is nothing about beets started by seeds, except a recommendation to stick to seedlings late in the season. Argh.

I did hit up the nurseries today to buy seedlings of things that "overwinter." We shall see how this experiment goes. I have broccolli, cauliflour, kale, lettuce....I am realizing that my eyes exceed the amount of land I actually have to farm, but I'm sure I'll make it work or give away a few starts. $21 for a lot of starts.

Fede and a friend cleaned up the property line with a plastic barrier to keep the neighbor's grass and weeds from encroaching on our bed, which is partly shady and near the compost bin. With a narrow bare strip of pristine land I went to Garden Fever in a frenzy and bought a bunch of shady loving perennials. I am usually too cheap to buy many perennials, and since most of garden is in the sun, I am woefully clueless about the joys of shady gardening. Today was the day to break with my established routine. I spent a chunk of change, and almost all on shady lovers I never glance at, let alone buy.

Decided this stripe is my little expensive learning laboratory. I quickly dug some holes, filled with a bit of compost and watered them up, then stuck the plants in, tucked in with most compost on top. I did this all in the span of about 1 hour and 1/2. Impressive, imho.

The plants are pretty, and I have visions of them fill out the strip into a lovely green area where weeds can no longer find a footing at all. It will also make the compost area more scenic....it is the entry way to the patio, which is my last gardening frontier.

Fall planting journal

So every gardener is supposed to keep a journal, tracking planting dates, bloom times, frost dates, etc. I view this blog as part garden journal, and in that spirit, today I planted our winter garden, inspired by that fall/winter gardening class I took back in the waning days of summer.

In the former garlic patch (which was previously the pumpkin patch), I've sown a bunch of beet seeds. The variety is "Early Wonder", which takes 55 days until harvest. That is roughly around the Day of Dead, which is when I plan to be in Oaxaca. I guess I will harvest when I come home. I cannot have enough beets in this house!

I also planted Romaine Lettuce, under the maple tree and as an edging near the garage entrance. It takes 78 days for maturity, which is a longg time...mid to late November. I really need more lettuce in the house. So in that spirit I got a lettuce mix from Uprising seeds, also near the tree and tucked in near the sage plant's edge.

The chard is producing prolifically, so no need for more chard. Collards, well, they are HUGE. If we eat collards everyday until Christmas we could not eat them all. They make a lovely edge to the border, so they are just fine biding time until we eat them.

I would like to plant more kale and some spinach. I've not had good luck with spinach from seed.

Yet.

Thai massage

After Breitenbush's yoga class teacher told me that thai massage was wonderful for tight hips (an outcome of a lot of hip tightening activities over the years) I thought, I want to get myself a thai massage. It will help reinforce what I'm doing in my yoga class, plus relaxation. It was fantastic and a combo of yoga and massage - in one sitting. You do it on the floor, clothed....I highly highly recommend it. Here is a Youtube video that has a good demo.




That was my treat of the week, combined with 2 yoga classes!

I've really been working on building in relaxation into every single day. A long walk, swim, yoga, massage....I want to enjoy the ability to really use my body. Re-reading some old posts from last winter, I realize how far I've come from a walker and not being able to bath on my own.

I am so grateful for the healing process (and the resources that I have to help it along).

Heavenly!

So we are back from 2 days of restful relaxation and fun at Breitenbush, a lovely place tucked in the Cascade Mountains....full of my favorite things: beautiful old growth forests to explore, natural hot springs, massage, yoga, a sauna, yummy vegetarian buffet, and no chores whatsoever. We also made friends with this lovely couple from Seattle....it was just one nice thing after another....

It was also my first long hike post-surgery. My foot did pretty good, all things considered. It was not a pain-free experience, but the toe was actually really fine. The outer edge of foot really hurt, and I think it was due to the way I've changed my gait to minimize pain. Something I'm working on with the PT....It was such a beautiful first. Woods, rivers, creeks, crossing over on log bridges, birdsong....I am so thankful to be resuming all the things I love.

Here are some pictures to whet the appetite.

Tomorrow

We are heading to one of my favorite places. In the forest, with natural hot springs...a cabin....to relax and enjoy the end of a lovely summer. To savor our time to just be. Without chores, without phones, electronics....

This time tomorrow I plan to be staring at the stars, soaking in the hot springs...holding hands.

Flores mas lindas

While veg gardening is a big part of the garden, I really started this whole thing because I LOVE flowers. I always have, and the ability to grow vases full is a creative act...blending colors, textures, smells....

Here are some of the late summer blooms - dahlias, roses, sunflowers, heliotrope...

News that isn't

At the gym today I was exposed to what passes for news nowadays. 3 screens running...Fox and a couple of network morning shows. The Fox anchorwomen looked like models, and the main stories were Michael Jackson's homicide and some reality TV show murder. Very glad that we don't get TV signals anymore.

Meanwhile on the way home I listened to Democracy Now radio news, which talked about the high levels pesticides in our drinking water (and how that particular one makes frogs hermaphroditic).

Which is the news you could actually use? Care about? Impact your well-being and that of your loved ones?

Incredible to think that the lack of real useful information on our "news" programs serves to numb us out and misinform us, leaving us unaware of important issues that really impact our health.

Sweet beets

While my beet crop has long been eaten, Debbie shared some of hers with us. I was able to try out an Oprah magazine recipe for Beet Soup, which I got to use our fresh tomatoes and garlic. This recipe was AWESOME. Fast, delicious, rich-tasting, even though there is no meat. The color is totally stunning, which is one of the reasons I adore beets. I got some fresh rolls from the Vietnamese bakery on 82nd Street, garnished with feta cheese, and voila, you have a delicious, simple and healthy meal.

Fede loved it, and we shall see what the kiddo thinks tomorrow.

Soaking

I'm going to let you in on a wonderful neighborhood place which we (finally) discovered as a couple...Common Ground Wellness Center's soak/sauna. I've been going to Common Ground for massage off and on for a while and always wanted to try out the hot tub and sauna, which I saw as it was being constructed. Finally we did it last weekend, and we love it.

It is clothing optional, which I admit, takes a certain amount of comfort in your own skin (and seeing others in theirs). I love the hot tub under the stars feeling in the evening. No one talks (hardly), so it has this very zen quality. Naked people relaxing in hot water. Naked people sweating in sauna. The only thing that needs some improving are the patio plants.

We did it again tonight...it was just a nice way to wind up a week. I come out feeling warm, very very relaxed, and ready for sleep. I'm visualizing this combined with a massage and yoga....for the total relaxation experience. Since People's Yoga is a few blocks away, and Audy is right in the building, this is easy to pull off, if I can block out 3 plus hours. Which I can, and I will.

Herbalist in training

One of my summer garden projects is harvesting the garden bounty for future teas and potions. I've been drying lavender, roses and other herbs in the closet. I've also been "garbling" which means to take those dried herbs and crumble them up for storage. Above is some of the "garbled" harvest - rose petals, calendula and lavender.

With nice repurposed glass jars full of my own herbs, I've also made bath powder and salts that feature ground-up herbs. Both are far more yummy, fresh and organic that anything you could ever buy, and affordable. I sent my mom a jar of homemade powder, and I'm thinking that I could make some baby powder too. The possibilities are endless.

My next experiment is making a vinegar hair rinse with infused apple cider vinegar that is out baking outside in the sun and moonshine. I bought some once online, and it was pricey. I loved how clean it made my hair feel, and the stuff is so very cheap to make. I'm infusing the vinegar with chamomile, rosemary and calendula.

Future bath salts will be ones designed for colds (using rosemary and sage dried and ground up), since that season will be coming sooner than you realize. I made some last year, and Fede really got better quicker after one of my special baths with sage in it.

Once I've garbled all the mints that are drying I will be making some tea blends to store away for the winter.

So many things to make!

Miracles in the garden

A couple of days ago I heard the most remarkable visitor in our garden. A frog. At first I felt disoriented. This is a sound I hear when camping or near a lake. Not in our city garden/yard. I stopped still in my tracks, listening intently...no mistaking the soft croaking of a frog. When I got into the flower bed to look, the croaking stopped. When I backed off, it resumed. We can hear him from our 2nd story bedroom window...a sweet country sound in the city. He resides here now.

I never fail to marvel at the miracles in our garden. A safe haven for all living things. Free of chemicals and full of good things to eat, whether you're a person or a frog or a bee.

Yoga with a wow

I decided to try a Hatha Flow class at People's Yoga, which I decided to revisit in spite of not liking the class I tried out (too crowded and not crazy about the teacher). The reason is that this class is taught by Ana, who is a fantastic teacher in all the ways you want a yoga teacher to be....knowledgeable, wise, tranquil, observant, funny, kind.

The class was an eye-opening, because I've never had an aerobic workout in a yoga class (I don't count Bikram yoga)...until now. I was sweating and working, plus stretching and breathing. I loved it. My foot didn't hurt, which was a bit of surprise, considering how much bending and balancing I was doing.

I'll be going back.

What I'm reading

I took a break from my audio-books for a musical interlude of amazing Rahman music. I need to write a whole post/ode to this remarkable musician (you might know him if you watched Slumdog, he did the soundtrack).

Now I'm listening to one of my favorite author's read her latest novel "The Mercy." Toni Morrison wanted to explore the time in our nation's history before slavery became equated with race, with Africans. There was such a time when our country was a mishmash of indentured servants of all colors. There was a slide to the enslavement of African people that began in the plantations of Virginia....it wasn't how this country started. Importing people to work as a birth sentence.

Here is a comment she made in an interview that I heartily agree with:

Yet none of this is to say that Morrison thinks race has run its course as an American topic (even if Obama wins). “Crude and crass as most of it is and, really, uninformed as almost all of it is, the discourse about race is important,” she says. “But the real conversation should take place among white people. They should talk to each other about that. Not with me. I can’t be the doctor and the patient.”

What I'm watching

A wonderful film about bikes, class, and being in love....set in China. Big thumbs up.

Southern collards

Butterbeans to blackberries: Recipes from the Southern Garden just came in from the library, and I'm delving into the mysteries of greens. I've got so much that I'm eager to find new recipes and tricks. Southern cooks would seem to be a logical resource.

I just tried greens with dumplings, which turned out pretty good for my first ever attempt at dumplings. Let's see what Federico thinks.

Greens get more bitter as they mature (gosh, is that what is happening to me? Smile). If my collards make it through the frost I'll keep that in mind. Using the crock pot solves that challenge nicely.

The garden at this moment

Above is a nice shot of those delicate Van Gogh sunflowers. Very pretty, but too dainty a stalk. Happy heliotrope is below. I love the yellow and purple combo.

Above is a different variety of sunflowers that self-seeded from last year's planting. These guys got crazy tall, have monster stalks, lots of flowers. Love flowers that are easy.

A Cinderalla pumpkin peeking out from foliage.

First tomato ready for picking. Thinking of caprese salad to use up basil

Close-up of that Van Gogh. Very photogenic flower.