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!!!

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....

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.

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!

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.

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!!!

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!

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!

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

keeping happy in hard times

Although some have declared the Great Recession officially over, for those who are still struggling, who are still without jobs, this declaration does little to ease the worry or make the rent or mortgage easier to pay. Regularly we need to remind ourselves to take one day at a time, that we are not to blame, that we still have a reason---and a right---to seek joy and happiness even during difficult economic times.

Which is why Dr. Robert Holden's article here is a must-read for anyone who has been affected by the current recession (and who hasn't!) and who is seeking to turn this time of financial uncertainty into a positive life lesson. I can say from personal experience that the rough times that affected my family during the dot.com bust of the late 1990s and the subsequent soul-searching we did then have helped us immensely to cope during the Great Recession. We were forced to examine what were the priorities in our lives; we also redefined what a happy and successful life meant for us, not for society in general or marketing executives or our neighbors or anyone else, but US.

Dr. Holden refers to this in the article under "The Real More" and "The Reality Check" sections. Other points he highlights include taking responsibility for your finances, making time for the important relationships in your life, taking stock of your blessings, scheduling time for having fun and self-care (which you still need and deserve whether you're a full-time employee or a full-time homecarer or a full-time job seeker), maintaining a positive attitude (as much as possible) and keeping the faith, and remembering to invest in yourself and others. For example, I have signed up for free courses at Creative Techs, who provide educational online webinars on subjects like Photoshop, creating iPhone apps, watercolor, and photography lighting. And did I mention they're FREE?!! :-D

Now I am off to spend the rest of this glorious day with some of my most precious blessings, my family. The husband has made a huge pot of leek and potato soup that smells amazing and is perfect for a chilly Sunday afternoon. Enjoy the rest of YOUR weekend! :-)

brrrr

Like much of the northern hemisphere, we too find ourselves in the grips of a cold snap. Frosted windows, wooly hats, many cups of tea fill our days. I confess it is on days like these that I am grateful to work from my home office. :-)

This week has seemed to go on forever, hasn't it? I suppose that's what we get in return for the shortened work schedules during the holidays. Which is why I am glad I have left my agenda for the weekend virtually open. I have a bit of paperwork and some correspondence to catch up on, but otherwise, the time has been left for the family to decide how we should best spend it. For one, I have a baby blanket to finish knitting, plus a recipe for vegetarian meatloaf that I have been meaning to try. And stacks of reading to keep me going through the winter of 2017. In this kind of weather, staying indoors seems like the sensible thing to do. Unless you're a child, of course. ;-)

Which is why hot chocolate is just the most wonderful January treat! We like to dress ours up with the usual whipped cream and cocoa powder---plus cinnamon for me and the tiniest sprinkle of cayenne for the husband. If you haven't tried spiced hot chocolate before, here is a recipe worth making this weekend, guaranteed to warm you up pronto.

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!!!

Photo is from Free Stock Photos.