Kitchen / Garden / Sanctuary - Urban Homesteading to Nourish Body + Spirit

Month: August 2012 (Page 2 of 2)

A Resting Day

My plans for yesterday involved the doing of many things needing to be done, but the day unfolded on its own into something so much different — nicer and more appropriate for this moment in time. I woke up awfully tired, so instead of going back to bed, I transferred outside to the front porch with a blanket to rest in the cool morning air with some nettles tea. And as it ended up, nearly the whole day was spent lounging on the porch. What a shift from my usual! And how delicious to just let go and allow myself the time to rest.

I’m feeling quite good but I still tire easily, and my antibiotics do contribute to that (they contribute nausea too). I’d overdone it the day before (and the day before that, and I’m sure the day before that, too), and my body was forcefully insisting on a rest. I’d been needing to get some moneymaking work done, but it just wasn’t happening and I couldn’t focus. So instead of struggling, I gave in and decided it would not be a work day, but an all-around rest day.

I savored being in the lounge chair, hearing the morning begin — finches singing, clinking dishes from a neighbor’s open kitchen window, the whir of a lawnmower, blue jays calling in the distance, a dad jogging by with a stroller, a car passing now and then.

How peaceful.

And then later in the afternoon when I was feeling more alive, I packed up a picnic of nausea-friendly foods and met my parents at an outdoor venue for a little concert that was happening. After treating my body to a whole day of nurturance, I treated my spirit too.

Homemade Arnold Palmer, cucumbers and vinegar, peaches, and pasta with tomatoes and basil.

What a gift to give oneself!

I did nothing that was on my list, but who cares anyway because it was a very-much-needed pause.

I hope you’re able to do the same for yourself, to rest outside in the summer air, and to take a picnic to a local outdoor concert. Do! While it’s still summer!

I hope you’ve been enjoying your week~

*****

Kelp Noodles!

Have you tried kelp noodles? I just tried them for the first time this week and I like them! They have an unexpected crunchy texture and, somehow, a completely neutral taste. They’re also a raw food, and made only of seaweed. I mixed them into my solar-cooked “stir fry” for breakfast this morning, yum. I like the fact that they’re made from kelp, so they add iodine and trace minerals to my meal. My still-delicate tummy also gave them a thumbs up, as far as digestibility goes.

They cost about $3.50 at our local health food store.

Have you tried them? How do you like to eat them??

***

The stir fry was delicious by the way — I love making those because you can toss anything in and it always comes out great. This time it was: Bean sprouts, yellow squash, onions, garlic, Nama Shoyu soy sauce, and a tiny bit of sesame oil…steamed in the solar oven…and served over kelp noodles…topped with more Nama Shoyu, fresh Thai basil, culantro (or you can use cilantro which is similar), and chopped green onion tops.

***

*****

Make a Fruit Fly Trap!

Is your kitchen full of fruit flies?

Try this handy little trap:

1. ) Roll a piece of paper into a cone shape, and secure with tape. The opening should only be large enough for a fruit fly to fit through.

2.) Place a piece of fruit into a tall jar.

3.) Set the paper cone into the jar. Tape the paper to the jar so the flies can’t escape around the edges.

4.) The flies will fly in, but can’t get back out. Release them outside, or dream up your own creative way of getting rid of them.

*****

Gratitude Sunday * August 5, 2012

~ I’m once again joining Taryn over at Wooly Moss Roots in her Gratitude Sunday tradition. ~

Gratitude Sunday is a time to slow down and remember those thankful moments that graced our week. One reason I love keeping a daily gratitude journal is because it helps keep things in perspective for me. Each Sunday, I open my journal and share some of those moments with you here. If you’d like to join in, just leave a comment!

Gratitude is powerful energy. I love hearing others’ gratitudes!

***

– I’m so grateful to be at our new house! I just love it. Love it!!!

– For the internet connection that F has magically been able to cobble together for me. They don’t hook up our phone or internet for another couple days, so I’ve been really appreciating the internet when I have it, especially for the time-sensitive moneymaking work I needed to get out. Thank you honey!!!

– And also, for the time unplugged. It’s been peaceful without the phone ringing (though I’ll really appreciate it when we have it), and also a welcome break from the ‘net.

– Transforming terrible, tasteless fruit into something delicious, simply by cooking it. It always amazes me.

– Cooking everything in the solar oven since we’ve moved in! Cookies, quinoa, plums, peaches, lentils, an egg, more quinoa, tea, garlic rosemary potatoes, and a steak (which we’ll have to try again, since the clouds rolled in).

– Gardening at dusk with the crickets and cicadas. How peaceful.

– That F knew just what to do to troubleshoot the hot water heater when it stopped working! I love how we each have our own areas of expertise, and putting our brains together, we can pretty much tackle anything.

– Our beautiful new kitchen. It’s such a pleasure to work in.

– The Olympics!! I love watching the Olympics!!!

– Being moved in. It was a lot of effort and thought and energy output to move. I’m really glad it’s over and we’re getting settled now. Things are still feeling messy and chaotic (except the kitchen — that was the first priority), but soon it’ll be much better.

– Having our own private outdoor space. Ahhhhhh… it feels so so sooo good.

– Tea in the garden.

– Moonlight flooding in the big southside windows.

– Setting up our home! What fun!

– My sweet little kitty companion, who kindly supervises my moneymaking work.

***

How have you felt blessed this past week?

*****

Newer posts »

© 2025 The Herbangardener

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑