Less and more

I really like the Christmas season. Today, I've pulled out the Christmas decorations. I bought a real tree yesterday which is still leaning on the deck. This year most of my gift ideas came together easily, just the way I like it. I keep everything pretty simple and do shopping early.

I have been so busy today that I have no new ideas and no new thoughts. It's funny how I can think all day about something while I am doing things and yet nothing new comes of it. And the days I don't think as much and usually am not as busy, then all kinds of inspirations flow in. So - I guess I need to do less, think less, and create more.

Life of pi

Life of Pi, the movie, was really good! I loved the book and I loved the movie. The scenes of the ocean are great in 3D. I was mystified with the book, a little less mystified with the movie, but still mystified. It's like taking and English literature course and knowing I'm missing some major point of the book. And maybe it's okay not to have everything figured out.

New cookbook - Spiced chickpeas & fresh vegetable salad

My daughter had this new cookbook and made dinner for me from it. Yum! I went and bought it today. I love the flavours in the book though some ingredients might be difficult to find. I am used to substituting. I bought a red onion for the recipe and then forgot to put it in. :)

Spiced chickpeas and fresh vegetable salad

1/2 cup chickpeas, soaked (with 1 tsp baking soda) and cooked and drained
2 small cucumbers
2 large tomatoes
a handful of radishes
1 red pepper
1 small red onion
handful cilantro leaves
handful parsley leaves
6 tbsp olive oil
grated zest of 1 lemon plus 2 tbsp juice
1 1/2 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp fine sugar
1 tsp ground cardamon
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper

Chop cucumber, tomato, radish, onion pepper, cilantro and parsley and toss in a bowl.

In a jar, mix 5 tbsp of the olive oil, the lemon juice, zest, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and mix well to form a dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly.

Mix together the cardamon, allspice, cumin and 1/4 tsp salt on a plate. Toss the cooked and well-drained chickpeas in the spice mixture to coat. Heat remaining olive oil in a pan over medium heat and lightly fry the chickpeas for 2 to 3 minutes, gently shaking the pan so they cook evenly and don't stick. Serve beside the salad on a plate.

You can drizzle some Greek yogurt on top to make the salad creamy.

Traveling

Traveling by plane is very discombobulating. I feel like I am buzzing all over. I spent 10 hours getting home yesterday.

I practiced being absolutely still and silent for 5 seconds. Strange how that seems like a long time. The past disappears. Actually I disappear. It is so peaceful and spacious.

In transit

I am trying to leave beautiful Montreal. I have been at the airport for hours. There is a "server" down in Toronto so all Porter flights are grounded. I wish I was in the city instead of here. Oh well, here I am.

Minna's home below, far right, cute!
I had a bit of lunch and a latte, it came in a bowl and was really fun to drink with 2 hands.

Best Sign

This is the best washroom sign I've ever seen. In where else but Montreal!

The old port of Montreal

I walked all over the old part of Montreal today. I love the old buildings, the doorways and the little windows and the cobblestone streets that look like alleys. The old town square was all decked out in Xmas trees. I window shopped (rapidly because it was a frigid day) looking at beautiful québécois art. Cafes and restaurants were getting ready with white tablecloths and wine glasses for the evening crowd.

I went to Notre Dame Cathedral and meditated there (and warmed up). The spaciousness was just amazing. It's the empty space I like most about churches and cathedrals. We sure put a lot of effort and beauty into buildings in the past. There was so much to look at and admire and be amazed at. It was such a change walking back with the stark square black and grey clean lined buildings with plain windows and glass doors. It was easy to walk by. But I've always liked the old parts of the world with it's essence of life lived.

Whiski dude and I went for a coffee at Pourquoi Pas Cafe on rue Amherst. The fellow behind the counter remembered us from the last few days and chucked Whiski under the chin and said hiya Whiski. And the little pooch falls asleep at the bar every time.