Feet up

Nothing I like better than putting my feet up after a wonderful weekend - wonderful company - a wonderful meal. - inspiring conversation. 

We had a meditation weekend at the yoga studio and as the weekend ends I am always so amazed at the experiences that people have. I wish I could remind or video it so that the memory holds and I and they can remember. Remember the experience of knowing who they are. That beautiful and sacred self that only wishes to be seen, again and again, until the experience of it is permanent. 

Chickens are out of their coop

The chickens are enjoying the sunshine. Clucking ever so peacefully.

I can see the canoe again in the back garden!

I've shed my outer skin (the parka). It was soooo long wearing the same thing!

Last week a friend shared that as she was cutting vegetables she thought to herself that "this is heaven!" I feel spring is always heaven. It's my favourite season. 

Happy Earth Day!

Home-making

Felix and I have gotten the sun room ready to sit in while we wait for enough warm weather to dig in the garden. 

With the late spring I've done much more work inside the house - especially lots of de-cluttering. I like organizing and putzing  around the house. Not so much the actual scrubbing and cleaning but that gets done to some extent if I can change things around. I notice my daughters do that too. And they have comfy, feel-good homes. When they were still in school they used to come home and I had all the furniture  re-arranged, even living room and dining room might have changed places. I still enjoy the home-making. I used to call it playing house. 

Correct link

It's 

sofasandsweaters.wordpress.com

Been a long time

Whiski in Montreal. He just had a spring hair cut. Next picture Whiski and my daughter, Minna, sitting in their favourite spot. 

It's been a while since I posted. That makes me feel undisciplined and lazy. Oh well!

I am inspired today because my other daughter, Tiina, started a blog. Her first post is amazing!

Sofasandsweaters@wordpress.com

I've visited Montreal (where Whiski lives with his people). I love that city!! 

On the mend spiced red lentil-kale soup

This soup is wonderful! It's from Angela Liddon's new cookbook - Oh She Glows Cookbook.

1 tsp coconut oil or olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced

2 large cloves garlic, minced

3 stalks celery, diced

1 bay leaf

1 1/4 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/4 to 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, to taste

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their juices

5 to 6 cups vegetable broth

1 cup uncooked red lentils, rinsed and drained

Fine-grain sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 handfuls destemmed torn kale leaves or spinach

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the celery, season with salt, and sauté for a few minutes more.

Add the bay leaf and all spices and stir to combine. Sauté for a couple of minutes, until fragrant.

Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, the broth, and the lentils. Bring to a boil.reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils are tender and fluffy. Season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard bay leaf.

Stir in the kale and cook for a few minutes more until it has wilted serve immediately.

Muddling and mending into spring.

On my way to work this morning I heard the seagulls. Rejoice! This is good news. Spring is on the way. My body is in resting mode this afternoon. I am making soup. Recipe is separate from this post so you can find it.  The soup is the mending part. Muddling? I've been muddling into spring. One step forward - clean something or organize, maybe take out a cooler jacket. Wham! One step backward - parka back on and retreat into comforter with a good book. I'd like to get on with it. It isn't happening yet. I'm okay with that. I suppose.