orecchiette with artichokes, tomatoes, spinach, and feta

This autumn, every Wednesday, aka "hump day," I am going to feature a "fast & furious" recipe that you can throw together in less time than waiting for the pizza delivery. A well-stocked pantry is a lifesaver, and I am currently putting together an autumn larder "must have" list to post in the next week or two.

In the meantime, here's a quick and easy family favorite. Ingredients:

Orecchiette, the lovely "little ear" pasta
Olive oil, 2 T
Garlic, 3 cloves finely chopped
Red pepper flakes (optional), 1/2-1 t
Tomatoes, 2 medium chopped
Artichoke hearts, 4/person quartered (canned are OK)
Spinach leaves, 2 cups torn in medium-sized pieces
Feta cheese, crumbled or cubed for topping

Prepared the vegetables and cheese while waiting for the pasta water to boil. After adding the pasta to the water, heat the olive oil to medium and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute for just a minute or two. Be careful not to let the garlic brown---you just want it to be golden. Add the tomatoes and artichoke hearts, stir occasionally, and saute for about 5 minutes. Throw in the fresh spinach, and allow it to wilt while you drain the orecchiette. Add the cooked pasta to the vegetables, stir, and remove from the heat. Cover, and let sit for a minute or two. Dish up, and sprinkle with the feta.  Enjoy!

freebie alert

New week, new month, so how about some freebie links to kick off? :-)

• Looking for some Halloween and autumn craft projects? Lion Brand yarn, one of my favorite sources for patterns and inspiration, has more than 70 free patterns here, for both crocheting and knitting, and beginners, too!

• The University of Chicago Press has released their free e-book for October, the novel Loving Little Egypt by Thomas McMahon. To get your download, go here.

• Lastly, Northcott is offering a free pattern download for its Child's Play with Kate and Nate collection crib ensemble. For details and your download, here's the link.

Happy Monday!!!!

carrot curry soup

Have spent much of this lovely September Sunday in the kitchen, and I am happy to report it's been a very successful cooking session! :-)

I'm also happy to share with you one of the concoctions I came up with this afternoon---carrot curry soup. I originally planned to make carrot ginger soup, but then I started adding cumin and coriander and something else was born. :-)

Here's what I used:

• Nine carrots, scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Olive oil, 2-3 T
• Onion, 1 medium-sized chopped
• Ginger, 1.5-inch piece finely chopped
• Garlic, 4 cloves finely chopped
• Veggie stock, 6 cups (use less if you prefer a thicker soup)
• Fennel seeds, 1 t
• Curry powder, 1-2 t OR I used 1/2 t each of cumin, turmeric, coriander powder, and asofetida
• Greek yogurt (or regular plain yogurt, sour cream, crème fraîche, etc.), 2 small individual containers
• Parsley, to garnish

First I sauteed the onion, garlic, ginger, and fennel seeds in the olive oil for about 10 minutes, medium heat, stirring frequently until the onion was translucent. Then I added the stock and carrots, brought to a boil, and simmered for 30-40 minutes, until the carrots were soft. After removing from the heat, I used a hand blender (if you don't have one of these, get one! Otherwise, use a regular blender) to cream until smooth, adding the curry spices and yogurt. Finish off with a bit of parsley---or a drizzle of fresh cream! Enjoy!!! :-)

the count is on

Let's be honest, I know no one is quite ready to accept the fact, but it won't be long before Christmas decorations start creeping into shops and catalogs fill our mailboxes. As I'm making most of our gifts this year, I've already been busy sorting through patterns and my yarn baskets and stocking up on supplies.

Lots of people on our list will be getting one of these wool hats this year. The pattern is easy, is FREE here, is available in both children and adult sizes, and the colors can easily be changed so that everyone can wear their favorite team or school colors = win, win, win, win! :-)

Oh, and in case you're wondering, 103 days until Christmas and counting!

in love

I stumbled across a new blog yesterday, and I am in love. Design Sponge, you make me swoon. So many pretty---and practical---ideas to make my head spin!

I love these faux books, which are easily made from scrap cardboard and hide art supplies and assorted knickknacks.

I also love this simple but fantastic stenciling tutorial (perhaps I'm partial on this one because I also love to eat ;-).

And before you gag over this Tom Cruise jumping on the sofa link love, here's just one more: I love both of these "afters". Two pretty generic pieces of furniture given personalities of their own---wonderful!


Photo is from Design Sponge.

back to school

Confession: I was---probably still am---a school geek. As a child, I loved school. When I came home from school, I played, you guessed it, school. Although I enjoyed summer vacation, I couldn't wait to go back to school. Even today, I still love shopping for school supplies---found myself a really cute pencil tin this year! :-)

As effects from the Great Recession drag on, however, school shopping is something that many families are having a difficult time facing this year. If you don't know of any programs locally established where you can help fund local students or needy schools, check out some of the links provided here by the Charity Guide.

If you'd also like to help out those a bit further away, consider a donation to Shining Hope, who sponsor health programs and schools in some of the most impoverished areas of Kenya.

Lastly, if your older kids need a bit of help with math and science, look into the free tutorials provided on YouTube by the Khan Academy here. You may want to use them to brush up yourself---even Bill Gates is a fan!


Photo is from the Charity Guide.

animal love

Busybusy here today, so just a short video that brought a smile to my face and thought worth sharing. Hope you're having a great day!!!

what to do...

When the Mother Nature decides to ignore the forecast and turn a gloriously late summer weekend day into an overcast, rain-sprinkling one? Pull out a book from the project shelf and get to work, of course. :-)

I realized recently I needed a new pin cushion, so I decided to make this pin cushion/sewing caddy from Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me. I followed the instructions pretty much to the letter, except I used old (but clean!) shredded tee shirts for the stuffing rather than polyfill. Great way to use up some fabric scraps too!

plage de temps

Plage de temps, or literally "beach of time," also is an expression for "a space of time for oneself to which one repairs on a daily or periodic basis" according to Mireille Guiliano---a concept that I thought about a great deal during the two weeks I combed the shoreline for green, brown, and bluey bits of sea glass to add to my collection (they represent to me the equivalent of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's shells in Gift from the Sea).

I am proud of myself for not only suggesting this vacation, this much-needed plage de temps, but also actually taking the time off as well. We didn't travel far---just the 10 miles from our home to the sea and back every day---and kept expenses low by packing picnics, with the occasional treat of a simple restaurant meal of grilled fish (done beachside here) and salad. OK, there also were regular stops at the ice cream kiosk as well, but it WAS a holiday. :-)

It would have been easy, though, to forgo the vacation entirely in the name of austerity, especially as my husband's job search and this era of economic uncertainty continue to drag on. But we both had worked so hard in the past year---everyone well deserved this break. As does everyone out there who has been affected by the stresses of the Great Recession.

Staycations and nearcations are great ways to promote plage de temps. You may not be fortunate as we are to live so close to a popular vacation spot, but there must be a park or recreational area within a similar distance to your house as well, perhaps even your own backyard, where you could enjoy a brief escape. After work today, I plan to start the weekend off right by soaking my feet in a washbasin while relaxing under the beach umbrella on our terrace. For as the waves lapped at my ankles last week, I learned that with a little effort and imagination, I can always have the sea with me.

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!

critters

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. --- Colette

I come from a family that always has shared our homes with four-footed creatures. When I was just a few months' old, my parents presented me with my first puppy, a beautiful spaniel we called Pepper, and my friendship with the fur bundles has never wavered.

Our four-footed friends have always been rescue animals, with early-life stories of abandonment and neglect that we try to erase with a superabundance of love. Such was the case of Sammy Cat, my brother's semiferal diva kitty who died yesterday of kidney failure. You do the best for them, but they always wind up giving back so much more. RIP, Sammy.

The recession has hit animal rescue groups especially hard. Visit a local shelter, and if you can't add a four-footed companion to your family, please donate a bag of food or whatever you can afford. For Sammy.

last week's view

Work is not always required . . . there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.
---George MacDonald

Yes, I'm back and have no intention of leaving again for awhile. After a couple months of intensive work, we corrected the imbalance by spending two weeks at the sea, during which time my major accomplishment was perfecting the beach nap. :-) I also had a lot of time to think, and one of the many realizations I had was that I missed writing for this blog. So expect regular postings here again---and often! :-D

As I am catching up with my e-mails and reading, I have a bunch of good links for you today. First, a link on 5 Ways to Preserve the Summer Harvest, including other methods beyond the traditional canning. Also, a few seasonal recipes from Kripalu. I am a huge fan of hot chai tea during colder months, but I am curious to try Kripalu's suggestion of having it cold on hot days, too. Next, a free knitted dishtowel pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Man, do I love this pattern---all the yummy colors! Great way to use up random bits of yarn as well. Finally, a reminder for me as much as you that for real productivity, less is truly more.

Keep enjoying these last weeks of summer, and if you find yourself frazzled, take it from me---get outside and do nothing! Until tomorrow....

tomatoes, tomatoes

Finally the tomatoes have ripened, and we are absolutely inundated! While I am finishing off the final chapters I need to edit before vacation (4 days!), the husband is spending his days making and jarring tomato sauce (as well as his favorite plum jam).

Here's a favorite---not to mention easy and quick---summer pasta recipe from Vegetarian Times, featuring seasonal vegetables, like the abundant tomato and corn. (I also really just like to say farfalle :-)


Photo is from Vegetarian Times.

bread & butter pickles

Brushing off the cobwebs to finally put up a post. :-) Crazybusy would only begin to describe the past few weeks, and then when I think I've edited the final book chapter and can RELAX, my client informs me that the other editor on the project has only managed to get through 5 chapters in the time I've done 20 (!). And could I please, please, please take more work? So yes, I have 8 chapters to get through before vacation---beach, I can hardly wait to see you! (Living 10 miles from the sea comes in handy when austerity measures rule the day.)

Somehow the garden has managed to survive despite my neglect, and we have a good crop of cucumbers this year. So while I was working extra overtime, I instructed the husband to make up some of Grandmom's bread and butter pickles, with strict orders not to deviate from the recipe (except to cut the slices slightly thicker) because it was HER pickles I craved.


I think she gave me the recipe almost 20 years ago, and I remember razzing her---the retired teacher (can't you tell from the handwriting?)---about the misspelling. A perfectionist, she didn't like that very much. And who cares anyway; the "pickels" are divine. :-)

freebie alert

Hope today finds you all recovering from a potato salad and flag-waving stupor. :-) Between lounging about and reading your latest beach novel today, make time to head over to Knitting Daily and download this free 10-page e-book titled Knitting Techniques for More Successful Knitting (and sign up for a free issue of Interweave Knits while you're at it). Although geared more for beginning knitters, I have been knitting for at least 10 years and still found much of the information new and useful. So check it out---it's FREE! :-)

balance and bookmarks

One aspect about the recession that challenges our family is the work-time imbalance that has become routine for almost the last 2 years. My husband and I each have too much of what the other wants so desperately. He, a true hunter/gatherer, wants nothing more than to be working again, and I of course have more work projects than I can handle. I want nothing more than to have another 10 hours in my day so that I can work on all the many non-work projects I have had to put off for longer than I care to remember, whereas my husband, after working on his job apps in the morning, has stretches of hours to fill. And I think both of us crave nothing more than a bit of balance for each other. Something you never read about when the news reports of "more jobs being shed" (can't help but notice how the human element has almost been entirely removed)....

I am currently juggling four projects, which is what has been keeping me away from these pages, but I am excited because all this hard work will be rewarded in three weeks, when I'm taking two weeks off. :-D

Although I haven't been writing here much of late, I have been saving lots of bookmarks for postings. First, Independence Day is this weekend (wow, how did that happen!), and if you're looking to try out some new recipes, here and here are some great suggestions. I love the foodie blog "eat make read", and particularly the yummy summery drink recipes---check it out! Also, as we live in an area where summer wild fires are a serious danger, BBQs in July really aren't done. Which is why I saved this bookmark for BAKED s'mores! Can't wait to make these this weekend! Finally, if you're looking for a tried and true, nothing fancy macaroni salad, here's a family recipe from the archives. I grew up eating this macaroni salad, which I believe my PA Dutch great-grandmother Mamie had published in one of those old church cookbooks.

On the craftier side, last Sunday I did manage to sew up a new tote bag (pictures coming) for carrying my books and things to the pool and beach. The pattern came from this book (an example of the bag is on the book cover), and it was really "simple sewing"---highly recommend. Other projects I really liked and have saved to do later include these flower necklaces and this knitted market bag.

And for a bit of fun, how excited I was to see two of my favorite singer dudes on the same episode of NPR's World Cafe: Lyle Lovett AND Steve Earle. :-D Listen here.

Ok must be off, articles to write and chapters to edit. Happy July, everyone!!!

summer!

A Something in a Summer's Day by Emily Dickinson

A something in a summer's Day
As slow her flambeaux burn away
Which solemnizes me.

A something in a summer's noon—
A depth—an Azure—a perfume—
Transcending ecstasy.

And still within a summer's night
A something so transporting bright
I clap my hands to see—

Then veil my too inspecting face
Lets such a subtle—shimmering grace
Flutter too far for me—

The wizard fingers never rest—
The purple brook within the breast
Still chafes it narrow bed—

Still rears the East her amber Flag—
Guides still the sun along the Crag
His Caravan of Red—

So looking on—the night—the morn
Conclude the wonder gay—
And I meet, coming thro' the dews
Another summer's Day!

Painting is A Wall (Nassau) by Winslow Homer.

read it forward

Hurry to the Crown Publishing Group's Read It Forward web site to enter your chances to win a FREE copy of their June offerings. Deadline is TOMORROW, June 15, so don't delay!!!!!

beauty hints

I have much beloved collection of half-century or older women's magazines, cookbooks, and encyclopedias of household hints that I've picked up for very little money here and there at used book stores, flea markets and eBay (of course). I love them for the historic value, the recipes, as well as for reminders that no matter how much the world changes, so much really stays the same.

When doing some cleaning yesterday, I stumbled across one of my favorites, "The Home Encyclopedia" published in London fifty years ago. I love this book because it's full of interesting little bits arranged alphabetically so it's easy to dip into, grab a little morsel of useful goodness, and then be on your way. For example, on one page there are instructions on planting runner beans, the recipe for bechamel sauce, and how to ascertain whether a bed is damp (use a mirror). There is also a list of helpful beauty hints, which I thought would be fun to share. And the funny thing, I actually already do some of these. :-)

1. After shampooing your hair, you can free it of all soap and leave it lustrous by putting a tablespoon of vinegar in the bowl of rinsing water.
2. Always use a blunt comb to avoid tearing and breaking your hair.
3. A lump of orris root in a muslin bag boiled with your hankerchiefs will produce a faint smell of violets on the hankerchiefs when they are ironed.
4. Pineapple, tinned or fresh, contains all the properties which enable you to resist colds.
5. We do not store fat unless we eat more food than we can assimilate.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!!!

vegetables with sauce verte

Lunch today, courtesy of the husband and this recipe from Bon Appétit.

He added some red pepper, carrots and fava beans for a bit more color and texture---wow was it good!

freebie alert

Many years ago, my grandmother was at her weekly hairdresser appointment, and one of the other customers shared with her a crochet pattern for dishcloths. Until my grandmother died, no one in my family had to buy dishcloths ever---our kitchen drawers were pack solid with them.

About six months ago, though, I noticed that some ours were looking a bit ragged, and I just couldn't bring myself to buy some generic, factory-made dishcloth after decades of homemade.

Luckily, I'm a big fan of the easy and quick knitting projects that I can whip up in an evening. And this free(!) pattern from Lion Brand Yarn for the Long Beach Washcloth is perfect for summer, with its cool blue, maize, and lime colors. Download it now!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!!

up with the farmers

I was up with the farmers this morning. I usually am an early riser, but with the sudden early onset of mid-summer heat, I have had to push back the hands on the alarm clock even further.

I feel rather accomplished for all that I have done by mid-morning, but I also know that by 3 o'clock this afternoon, my fingers will be dragging on the keyboard and a quick siesta will be in order---this is one reason I love working from home! :-)

So I better get back to it while the breeze is still coolish. Hope you're having a wonderful week!

for your holiday picnic

Now that picnic season is almost officially upon is, here is a tasty alternative to the bog-standard deviled egg. First, I should mention I love eggs, as in I get twitchy when our in-house stash falls below half a dozen ('tis no exaggeration). For me, they are the perfect fast food, so versatile, so yummy, and thus I am always looking for new ways to prepare them.

This recipe is based on one from The New Spanish Table, a fabulously fun book of food by Anya von Bremzen. Here's what you need:

6 large, hard-boiled eggs, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise

6 T tuna, drained and flaked

2 T mayo

1 T lemon juice

2 T chopped pimento-filled olives

Little sea salt and fresh black pepper

Thin strips of pimiento (from can or jar is okay) or roasted peppers

Minced flat-leaf Italian parsley

First, scoop out the eggs yolks and mash in a bowl. Add tuna, mayo, lemon juice, olives and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into the egg halves (you may have a little more filling than needed). Garnish with pepper strips and chopped parsley.

Enjoy!

noodlr

Not sure what to make for dinner tonight, (or you're a noodle junkie like me)? Then Noodlr is for you! I really could eat noodles every day, so when I saw this pop up on Bon Appetite's blog a couple days ago, I had to smile. Love the vegetarian option, too! :-D

freebie link love

I have praised the merits of CreativeLive (previous CreativeTechs) before here, and as another of Molly Murrah's painting classes is being offered, I need to again tell people what a great opportunity these FREE courses are. If you watch the classes online live, there is absolutely no charge. During the period the class is on offer, the entire course may be purchased for half-price; afterward, the full charge applies, but even that is low considering the value of Molly's instruction. So check out CreativeLive's complete class schedule and help spread the word of this great learning opportunity. :-)

Also, a couple months ago, I posted about another freebie from Oprah's Book Club. Every month a new chapter of David Bach's Start Over, Finish Rich is available as a download. The first THREE chapters are now available here.

Enjoy!

seeding and planting

One of my favorite summer treats is to pick a tomato fresh from the vine, slice it thin, drizzle with a little olive oil, and scoop onto a crunchy baguette. Oh, and throw a handful of basil leaves in top! Mmmm. :-)

If you haven't started a garden, it's not too late. And don't say you don't have any room for a garden because I bet you do---we grow all of our goodies on a relatively small roof terrace, which means all our plants are grown in pots---even an apple tree!

Not sure where to start? Well, my first suggestion is to grow veg and herbs that you really love to eat. No sense in growing beets if you despise them. Also, Whole Living recommends six easy-to-grow summer season vegetables to kick off your garden.

Need another reason to become a green thumb? "Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden." ---Orson Scott Card

Now go get yourself some gardening gloves and throw some seeds in the soil! :-)

"a flower is an educated weed"

So says Luther Burbank. My husband and I often have "discussions" regarding what exactly is a flower versus a weed. To me, the distinction is almost always irrelevant---a purty flower is a purty flower. :-)

If the wind eventually dies down here---it's been whipping all day---this weekend is for green thumb activities. Tomatoes, chilies, basil, and dill need to be potted out, along with some eggplant and cilantro. I *do* so love this time of year!

"A garden is the best alternative therapy." ---Germaine Greer

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."---Margaret Atwood

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."---Mohandas K. Gandhi

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!

break for lunch

Tired of your usual cheese sandwich or reheated pasta for lunch? Then mosey over to Vegetarian Times and check out their 21-Day Lunch Challenge. And if you're not a vegetarian, don't be afraid: their recipe suggestions would tempt even my devout carnivore husband. :-) Besides, you all know these healthy vegetable-based dishes are better for you than another trip to the nearby greasy spoon or fast-food restaurant. So be brave, a little adventurous even, and sign up today---remember the countdown to beach season starts in just a few days!

Happy Thursday!

make a difference

The past Saturday, I finally lugged two bags full of donations to our local charity shop. I won't say exactly how long they had been in the bottom of my wardrobe---let's just say "awhile". Silly, really, because the charity shop is little more than a five-minute walk from our front door. And not only does it provide inexpensive clothes and housewares to people in the neighborhood, but also its profits are donated to an animal rescue group and fund the local feral cat spay/neuter program. So it's a major win-win-win.

Giving back to the community is always important, but especially during rough economic times. I don't always have the funds to send off to my favorite charities like I did when my husband was working (oh so many months ago), but at the very least I give what I no longer need. Oprah's Angel Network provides a list of ideas---many of which cost nothing---in which you too can make donations or volunteer your time. Check it out! :-)

books books books

Crown Publishing offers chances every month to receive free copies of selected great new reads. The books on offer for May:

• Twelve Rooms with a View by Theresa Rebeck
• Ten Minutes from Home by Beth Greenfield
• Ancestor by Scott Sigler

Excerpts of each are available online as well, and the giveaway entry process is simple. Just don't delay: the deadline for this month's giveaway is tomorrow, May 11!!!

mogo

After months of watching our near-daily loaf from the local bread shop get smaller and smaller while being charged the same price, the husband decided enough and set out to make our own. And I must say his efforts (and sourdough starter) have been very successful!

This is just one way we are trying to MOGO, or add more good into our lives. As this article from Ode notes, we don't need to only eliminate elements from our lives (i.e., chemicals, kinds of foods, the latest gadgets), but rather we must remember to fill our lives with more good. The author suggests a gentle start, with just 10 minutes a day for 30 days of a new, positive activity---like sketching, reading, meditating, walking, gardening, reading to the kids, sending a quick note to friends, etc., etc., etc. With sooooo much negative in the world today, we ALL could use a bit more MOGO. :-)

Only two more days until the weekend, and only two more chapters left to edit on this (seemingly) never-ending book project! I am very grateful for the steady work, but I admit I am also looking forward to a mini-break. In my book, time trumps "stuff" almost always.

Have a great day, everyone!!!

monday

Monday by Billy Collins

The birds are in their trees,
the toast is in the toaster,
and the poets are at their windows.

They are at their windows
in every section of the tangerine of earth-
the Chinese poets looking up at the moon,
the American poets gazing out
at the pink and blue ribbons of sunrise.

The clerks are at their desks,
the miners are down in their mines,
and the poets are looking out their windows
maybe with a cigarette, a cup of tea,
and maybe a flannel shirt or bathrobe involved.

The proofreaders are playing the ping-pong
game of proofreading,
glancing back and forth from page to page,
the chefs are dicing celery and potatoes,
and the poets are at their windows
because it is their job which
they are paid nothing every Friday afternoon.

Which window it hardly seems to matter
though many have a favorite,
for there is always something to see---a bird grasping a thin branch,
the headlights of a taxi rounding a corner,
those two boys in wool caps angling across the street.

The fishermen bob in their boats,
the linemen climb their poles,
the barbers wait by their mirrors and chairs,
and the poets continue to stare
at the cracked birdbath or a limb knocked down by wind.

By now, it should go without saying
that what the oven is to the baker
and the berry-stained blouse to the dry cleaner,
so the window is to the poet.

Just think---
before the invention of the window,
the poets would have had to put on a jacket
and a winter hat to go outside
or remain indoors with only a wall to stare at.

And when I say a wall,
I do not mean a wall with striped wallpaper
and a sketch of a cow in a frame.

I mean a cold wall of fieldstones,
the wall of the medieval sonnet,
the original woman's heart of stone,
the stone caught in the throat of her poet-lover.

friday freebie alert

Free Spanish course from Berlitz, but you must sign up TODAY!

TGIAM!

Or, thank goodness it's almost May! :-) Putting the finishing touches on a book project that has occupied many of my waking hours since early February (which is not coincidentally when my sporadic postings commenced), and just in time to enjoy the REAL Spring days of the coming month, yay!

Hail, bounteous May, that doth inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale boast thy blessing.

John Milton

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!!!

saving the seas

Still looking for ideas on how to celebrate this year's Earth Day? Then head over to The Nature Conservancy and see their suggestions to help make our oceans and marine life happy and healthy. For example: "Did you know that half of the oxygen in the air is produced by plants in the sea and that oceans absorb about one-third of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions?" I did not know that!

There are also ideas for more responsible eating, gardening, and shopping---all which can affect the health of our seas---as well as information on what you can do to help the coral reefs. Only two more days until Earth Day, so check it out! :-)

earth week

Earth Day is not officially scheduled until later this week, but I've decided to honor this important day all week long. :-) It makes me sad that Earth Day is sometimes dismissed as a crunchy hippy granola event because other than death and taxes, this great planet is one of the few commonalities that we all share. And when we neglect a relationship, whether it be with a person or animal or plant or planet even, the result will never be a good one.

If you're not sure where to get started, Whole Living has 10 suggestions on how to make Earth Day 2010 meaningful. And for the knitters out there, Knitting Daily invites you to join their Knitting Green Challenge---lots of great project ideas!

More to come all this week!


Photo is by Joe Wirtheim, victorygardenoftomorrow.com.

sacred days

When one works from home, taking a day off can be challenging. But over the years, I have come to insist on one day a week that we deem a sacred day, or our family rest day. That means no office work, no "chores", and no extended social commitments. One may chose to spend the day creating in the kitchen or "working" in the garden, and that's ok as long as the decision is voluntary. :-)

Today the rain clouds have gathered overhead and foiled any plans we might have had of spending a pleasant Spring day outdoors. But we are not letting April showers keep us from relaxing and recharging before another busy week. There is plenty of reading and baking and knitting and napping and brunching and planning and pondering and catching up with one another to keep everyone content and grateful for the day.

Hope you are having a GREAT and work-free day, too! :-)

forward

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend with loved ones! It feels like Spring really is HERE now, what with more and more flowers in bloom, the earth warming beneath our feet, the daylight pushing later into the night.

Whether one celebrates or not, Easter weekend always seems the perfect time to reflect on the good of our past, before shifting focus forward to our future, the opportunities for our own rebirth and resurrection.

And of course, eggs. Lots and lots of eggs. In addition to the colored ones my sister and brother and I would paint, Grandmom always made a batch of the PA Dutch variety, dyed a rusty brown color in yellow onion skins. As a child, I thought "Blech!", but many years later I have developed great affection for them, as well as other naturally dyed eggs. If you are like us, though, and find yourself today with an enormous bowl of hard-boiled eggs, here are a few suggestions to help them disappear. I always love a salad nicoise, and of course the red beet eggs recipe is yet another reminder of home. :-)

Here's to the start of a GREAT week!

spring tarts

Man, words can't describe how amazingly good this asparagus/leek/red pepper cheesy/eggy tart is. I'm not tooting my own horn, by the way; the husband gets all the credit. If you are looking for recipe suggestions for your Easter brunch, I highly recommend a spring vegetable tart or quiche. Pair with a simple salad, and you have yourself a simple yet elegant meal. The inspiration for this tart came from La Cucina Italiana, here. For more seasonal ideas, just type "spring" in La Cucina Italiana's recipe search and be amazed how quickly you start salivating. :-)

While I'm on the subject of homecooking, do consider signing the petition English chef Jamie Oliver has on his web site. His stated mission:

The American Food Revolution needs to start now! If you care about your country and the health of its children please help us make a difference. We need your support to get people back in touch with food and keep cooking skills alive before it's too late. We want to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. It's proven that real food promotes more effective learning. If you want better health for your kids the junk food must go.

If you support whole foods and want to see less sugar, fat, and salt in children's diets, sign up please! Gracias!

friday freebies

It's been a long time since I've posted some Friday Freebies, and today I finally have three for you. First, though, please let's admire the supercuteness of my new niece, aged 11 days. Isn't that just the sweetest little face?! And o the red hair!

Ok, enough auntie gushing. First freebie, the latest in MIT free open courses here. Subjects covered are varied and include, for example, project management, game design, engineering, and robotics, as well as courses in the humanities like English novels, political theory, and women and gender studies.

Second freebie, Oprah's Book Club is offering a new free chapter download each month from David Bach's Starting Over, Finish Rich: 10 Steps to Get You Back no Track in 2010. The first chapter is currently available here.

Third freebie, for the knitters out there, Knitting Daily has made the "Not a Feather Cap" pattern available as a free download here. Check it out---it's a really sweet multiseasonal hat.

Speaking of sweet, look at my niece's cheeks. Aren't they just so squeezable?! Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!!!

two coats in one for less than $5?!

I LOVE this idea---a reversible coat, two distinct collars, made from thrifted fleece throws, AND for less than $5! Wow.

Pattern details and more photos can be found at instructables.

let the decluttering begin!

I don't know when I have so looked forward to a Spring as I have this year. Months of rain---the worst here in more than seventy years---gray skies, damp clammy days, and countless cups of tea can do that to a person. And even though the calendar insists we have passed the Golden Day and perhaps the temperature has warmed ever so slightly, the sun remains elusive.

That said, I KNOW it's Spring because the urge to toss, declutter, and remove the dross that has accumulated in the past few months occupies much of my attention these days. We're even a fairly organized bunch here, but geez the battle of the paper and the books and the computer cables and the clothes and the pantry is a never-ending battle. If you're not sure where to begin, wholeliving has put together an action plan for you, guiding your Spring clean attack through the house room by room. It's a great motivator, so I recommend checking it out. And see how quickly you can find fifty things to get rid of! :-)

spring

Welcome, dear Spring! O how we've missed you!

shamrocks, guinness, and all things green

Almost ten years ago, we were invited to the wedding of a good friend in Ireland, so as we were making quite a journey to attend, we decided to make a proper vacation out of our visit. And wow, were we glad we did! Beautiful landscapes, friendly people, good music, rolling countryside, and despite its difficult history, a real sense of calm and tranquility most of the places we journeyed through. Would love to return to Ireland someday and spend even more time there, but alas that shall have to wait until after the Great Recession loosens its grip on our purse strings.

But if you too need to dose of arm chair travel, The Happy Recessionist has put together a little guide to help you pay homage to St. Patrick today. For a complete menu of Irish cooking (including a bunch of vegetarian options!), mosey by kitchn's shamrock menus. Personally I am a huge fan of potato leek soup, on many days besides March 17th! :-) Of course, there must be Guinness, and if drinking the thick brew doesn't suit you, this beer can be used in all sorts of delicious concoctions, from breads to puddings. Inspiration needed? Look here. Finally, on the music front, NPR is running a live stream of Irish music today---seven hours of tunes to keep your toes tapping and the jigs lively. Sláinte mhaith!

Photo is from Irish Views.

hope

I think we've all hit the point where the thought of another day of gray and cold and windy and damp weather keeps us hitting the snooze button in the morning and snuggling further down under the duvet, with every intention of hibernating there until the second week of April. Right? I even normally like winter, but after two straight months of rain and gray, I found myself pricing SAD sun lamps while I ate my lunch today.

Fortunately, I also came across this short article, which lightened my mood. With so much negativity in the world and reinforced by the media, a quick reminder of the importance of hope and faith in our lives was just the boost I needed. :-)

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places — and there are so many–where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.” ---Howard Zinn

40 days

Wow, is it me or did we just reach holiday overload? Between Carnaval/Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, President's Day, Fat Tuesday, and now Ash Wednesday, my head is spinning! :-) Which is why I have decided what I most need to address during the 40 days of Lent is slowing down and taking some time away from the crazybusy world to meditate and reflect.

So what a better time to sign on to a 40-day yoga challenge! I have been doing yoga for years, but I admit when my work schedule fills up my trips to the mat become irregular. And lately between the article writing and back to back to back book editing projects, my yoga practice has suffered. But I am ready to change that over the next six weeks. :-) One day down, 39 to go!

carnaval!

According to my calendar, Fat Tuesday and the Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, are next week. Which means we are in the midst of Carnaval, or Mardi Gras if you prefer, here! This cutie was a part of the local school parade today. :-)

We continue the celebration through the weekend. Tomorrow friends are coming to dinner and Sunday, if you haven't heard, is Cupid's day. I know, I know, but Valentine's was celebrated long before Hallmark hijacked the holiday, and one doesn't need to buy into the commercial hype to still make the day special. We're doing simple homemade paper cards and heart-shaped baked goods at The Happy Recessionist's house.

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone! And don't forget to remind the special people in your life how very loved they are!!!

first signs of spring

Ha-ha groundhog and Snowmageddon/Snowpocalypse, look what I found on our terrace yesterday!!!

Spring REALLY will be here soon, and boy does it smell delicious! :-D

candlemas

Ok, so there is no reason to be sad that good old Phil saw his shadow today, thus granting us at least another six more weeks of winter. The more inspiring Candlemas, which marks the half-way point of our cold season, is celebrated today. And as our thoughts turn toward seedlings and the approaching season of growth, perhaps Candlemas is even more fitting a holiday than January 1 to contemplate our new beginnings and set goals we hope to achieve during our personal growing season.

We also celebrate Candlemas by lighting candles in every room of our house and having breakfast for dinner: tonight, pear-filled pancakes (with a drizzle of hot chocolate sauce, yum :-)! And this past Sunday, my husband spent the afternoon beginning to prep our garden. Because, yes, in just a few short weeks, we will start planting our summer harvests. So forget about the groundhog---light a candle and dream about the warm and sunny days ahead. :-D

sardines, tomatoes, & pasta

Is it me or has this week just flown by?! Which is why today I made one of my favorite "5 or less" meals. Not only is this one supereasy but it's also superhealthy AND supertasty---the trifecta of happy eating. :-)

While the pasta water was boiling, I opened a can of sardines packed in tomato sauce. In a saute pan, I added a little olive oil, a couple cloves of finely chopped garlic, and a diced tomato. Then, after adding the pasta to the water, I cooked the garlic and tomatoes for a couple minutes before mixing in the sardines and sauce. I prefer to remove any larger fish bones beforehand, but it's not necessary. Simmer for five minutes and then toss with the cooked, drained pasta. Voila!

Today I added some chopped olive and fresh Italian parsley as well. I also tend to follow the Italian tradition of not mixing cheese with fish, so I mixed in some fine breadcrumbs seasoned with garlic and parsley; the breadcrumbs give a very similar texture as finely ground romano. Obviously, though, if you love cheese, traditions are always made to be broken. ;-) Enjoy!

sweater blanket

Wow, do I love this idea! ReadyMade (another one of my favorite sources for inspiration) has published instructions to make this gorgeous patchwork blanket using old sweaters and a bit of satin ribbon. Have I mentioned how much I love this idea? :-) Anytime an article is repurposed, recycled, reused gets the "thumbs up" from The Happy Recessionist, and when the end product is a beautiful warm winter blanket---and you know how much these cost retail---I make an appointment to scour our drawers and the local charity shop for sweaters looking for a second lease on life. I like the idea of mixing up basic knits with textured and cabled pieces, too. Obviously, the size can be played with as well, so the kids can have smaller versions of their own. ReadyMade DEFINITELY gets The Happy Recessionist seal of approval for this creative concept. :-)

Photo by Kate Lacey.