Summer Time

Jamie's prompt today - 'What do you wish for this summer?'

After a rainy spring, summer seems to 'finally' be here, & today's the longest day!

I WISH -  for bountiful gardens, full of good food for the rest of the year - I've been working up some new beds, & attending to the old; things are growing, & my CSA share offers delightful goodness each week. I just got a wonderfully cared for 'reel' mower, & am attempting to get my lawns in order so it will gracefully cut them!
My raspberries are ripe, & I've been enjoying some in my breakfast bowl, & sharing them with the fam ...

I WISH - for my grandchildren to have a lovely summer! Last year, my daughter was home with her girls & new baby, as he was born in May, so her leave came in summer. This year, I've been watching him 4 mornings a week (till ~ 1:15) & will have his sisters as well - when they're not busy (science camp for the 12 year old this week, VBS - that I'll assist with - next month, dance camp ...) my son's 2 will join us for some of the summer fun!


I WISH for times of fun with my family & friends, & some good dancing! We had a 'hobo dance' on Saturday, & this weekend I go with galfriends to the beach for a few days. There are mini vacations planned throughout the summer - hmmm, would be nice to have a BIGGER vacation ....

My daughter & I dream of going to Mexico again in the fall - probably not practical, but appealing ....

I WISH for some wonderful books to snuggle up with, after the day's chores are finished - summer always was my time for reading as a child, & while I read pretty constantly, I love finding new authors at the library, or perhaps I'll spend more time finding what my son put on my little 'tablet' ....

What are YOUR summer wishes?

Garden of Delights

Jamie's prompt today is 'What do you wish to DELIGHT in?'
Ooo - the lovely greening - veridatis - of the gardens, flowers, growing veggies, ploting & planting.

And my grandchildren!! My grandmothers, Minnie VESTELLA & Mary Irel, both died in the decade before my arrival, so I never had the blessing of sitting on their laps & hearing their stories. So I've made a point of being more involved in my grandchildren's lives!

My daughter's 3 see a lot more of me, & I of them, as we live in the same town. My son's are a bit trickier to network with, as they're 2 hours away, & their mom is home with them, so I don't kid sit as much. Memorial weekend my youngest granddaughter & I visited, & again, with the cousins together, I don't see much of them!!

I delight in friends, I delightin delicious fresh & mostly local OG veggies & FRUITS, which are just beginning to ripen!!

I what do YOU delight, this day after the Venus 'eclipse' of the sun!!?

Home Sweet Home

Jamie's prompt today - 'What do you wish for your home?'
I love her picture of tools hanging on a wall!!

Practical: 
Boy - I'd love some solar panels on the roof, trim painted (2 story, so not by me!) & probably some work on the roof itself

My little 'old computer room' to magically transform into a luxurious pantry for all my staples, GF grains, beans, water jugs (from my friend's well) etc - here's a lovely post that I'll puruse when it's not so sunny (garden calling!!!)

A sun room/green house to the West of the house .... I love sitting outside on my porch swing (when I'm not putzing in the garden) ... would be fun to have a place to sit when it's not quite that warm that still takes advantage of the sun

& energetic - for my home to feel warm & welcoming to all who enter!
That's improving, ... visited friends on the weekend, & I'm always impressed when I'm in a home with no piles tucked here & there! Clear counters, beautiful bamboo cabinets & kitchen stools, lots of light in the living room .... such a pretty home.

We went to dinner at a McMansion - which was beyond beyond beyond anything I've ever lived in - grand piano in ONE OF the sitting rooms, glass sink on a pedestal in the bathroom (I'm always intrigued with pretty bathrooms) ...

I love my little home!! & wish it to know I love living here, the wood floors, the pretty colours, the books, harps, simple kitchen, tucked away laundry closet .... & the LOVELY big back yard full of garden space, fruit shrubs & trees, an herb garden, & lots of room for veggies!

What do you wish for YOUR home??

Pumpkin Pie Quinoa Bake

Last fall I found a great recipe 'just in time' for my son-in law's BD! He & I both LOVE quinoa in any form, and as soon as I made this the first time, I knew it would become a family favorite! Leanne of 'Healthful Pursuit' is a nutritionist in Canada, & has a wonderful blog full of recipes & tips for healthy eating, many GF & vegan!
Her recipe was made for 2, so I expanded it, & also began with boiling water, as I'd learned that trick oven baking rice 35 years ago! So here's my version!

I begin with fresh squash from my farmers, Katie & Casey of Oakhill Organics, & often bake another while I have the quinoa in the oven, as I like to have fresh baked pumkin or squash on hand for smoothies & including in recipes.
Following their suggestion, & just poke the squash with a knife a few times (like a baking potato) & put in a pan with a bit of water in the bottom. After it's baked, I cut & scoop the seeds, which I sprinkle with a bit of salt & perhaps curry powder or pumpkin pie spice, & stick back in that hot (but turned off) oven - or do that later. The seeds make GREAT snacks!

Pumpkin Pie Quinoa bake (my version)
vegan & gluten free, does contain coconut
- heat oven to 350* & lightly oil a quart or larger casserole

1 1/2 C boiling water
1/2 C OG pumpkin puree - I chop  pre-baked squash in the blender & process with water or coconut milk,  {you could use tinned}
1/2 C quinoa
1/4 C amaranth (total of 3/4 C, could use all quinoa)
1 Tbsp Teff (for extra nutrition - can skip if you don't have any)

1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla


optional additions:
1 T maple syrup
2 Tbsp cacao nibs,
1/4 C dried fruit: raisins,  cran-raisins, currents ...

Bring water to a boil
puree pumpkin with sufficient liquid to blend

Mix spices & other ingredients with pumpkin puree
Heat coconut oil in a pan on stove top, & lightly toast quinoa & amaranth for a few minutes, stirring; then pour boiling water over
mix with pumpkin & rest of ingredients
Transfer to baking dish, cover & place in oven
Bake COVERED for 30 minutes, then remove cover & add topping; bake an additional 10 minutes UNCOVERED

Topping:
1/4 C coconut shreds mixed with sunflower seeds (can pre-toast if you wish)
1 Tbsp coconut oil in chunks
sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice & cinnamon
1 tsp or more maple syrup if you wish

You can use this method to bake quinoa plain or with onions, garlic etc - any additions you'd use on top of the stove. It turns out very fluffy - it's important to bring the water to a boil first, as that allows it to cook in the alloted time! I tend to mix quinoa with amaranth, & often add a Tbsp teff (for nutrient density, the seeds - African Millet - are tiny, so mostly bran & germ)

I often bake a batch, either plain or with pumpkin, while I'm roasting veggies, it takes a little longer than stove top, but is nice if have something else to do while it's cooking!

Spa Water

Happy Easter!!
It's a lovely, sunny day, & I've been playing in my garden .... came in to put on some music, & found this fun post on making your own 'spa water' with fruits & herbs, etc marinating a bit in your water!

A dear harper friend often gathers FLOWERS (edible & OG) & herbs, & keeps a supply of pretty pitchers on hand for gatherings. The first I attended, she sent me out to the garden with a basket to gather the herbs & flowers, then we rinsed them & put into the pitchers with lemon slices for the tables! Beautiful. And tasty!

So if you struggle to drink enough water - try some 'spa water' with flowers & herbs from your own (hopefully unsprayed) yard! Remember to stick to plants you KNOW - here's a nice chart of edible flowers, with some tips on use & cautions.

Experiencing the Divine

Today Jamie's prompt is 'What do you wish to Experience?'

I wish to experience the Divine in each moment! To experience life in the present, not caught in the 'story' of the past or anticipation of the future! And to share my light, my Chi with others! Certainly to enjoy thinking of what has happened, or what's coming up, but coming back to THIS breath, THIS step, THIS heartbeat!

On the weekend, my daughter's little family & I headed to the mountains - Breitenbush Hot Springs 35th Anniversary & "Tribal Reunion" .... old friends, familiar grounds, for many of us 'chosen to be some of the 50-60 who live on the land at one time,' even when we've been 'in the world' again for years, THIS land is home!

We walked to the gravesite of a lovely woman who preceeded me on the land, led by her 20something daughter, & surrounded by other friends. There was snow on the ground, a sweet fairy/angel on the grave, & the sun came out for us! {I'm in the middle, in my long dark robe}

The girls who knew her as mom or 'auntie' spoke of her braiding hair, checking in. Others who knew her bespoke of her JOY, even when she was ill (cancer) & in the process. One of our brothers who had a run with kidney disease spoke of seeing her in a hospital corridor, & again, her beauty, smile, JOY & light!

That light, that Joy in the moment - ah, bliss! “A truly happy person is filled with chi. When someone is ‘bubbling over’ with joy, they are overflowing with positive chi. That’s why we love to be around happy people; they are virtual fountains of chi, replenishing others wherever they go.” {David Daniel Kennedy}

Debra embodied this during her lifetime, bubbling over with Joy, even in illness!

My daughter, 11 year old granddaughter & I took yoga Sunday AM, & were reminded of coming back to the breath, out of the story, into the moment. May we all be so blessed!

What do YOU wish to experience?

Springing forward

Today Jamie asks: "What do you wish would SPRING into your life?"

Tee hee - I immediately thought of the Spring Forest Qigong 'spring intensive' I participated in - on-line, with about 50,000 other folks around the globe! What a SWEET week it was! Each day there were a couple of audio sessions to listen to at your own pace, & there were videos of the active forms. (there are a couple of 'moving pictures' on this practitioner's page, & some of the testimonials that we watched during the course) There is also a FB page for interaction with members of the community. You could purchase the instructional materials at any time, or just use the free version while available.

I pulled out a notebook & took notes, watched the active video a couple of times (going back to the more complicated part), and after the class was over, decided to take the 100 day practice 'challenge' & do the form for 100 days! I have been doing Soaring Crane & several other forms 2-4x a week for awhile, & and took my first Tai Chi/qigong classes 29 years ago, when I was studying massage.

I also have begun integrating the healing method into my massage & Reiki practice, it dovetails with other methods.
While the healing stories in the Testimonials sound fantastic, the teacher who brought Soaring Crane to the West is now in her 70s, & was 'terminally ill' with Breast Cancer at 48, after adding Qigong to her routine. Professor Chen already had surgery & was undergoing radiation when she told her 'sad story' to a fellow in the waiting room ... his 'sad story' - lung cancer, he'd also been told to 'go home & rest' .... & went out & discovered Qigong instead! After several months, he returned to the clinic, & they told him 'cancer very small, we can do radiation after all ...'

So I'm 'springing' into spring with qigong!