One of my favorite movies was a little documentary called ‘The Biggest Little Farm’ It’s about a couple who decided to bring a few acres of land back to life and create a harmonious ecosystem in the form of a sustainable farm. It spaned seven years of beautifully filmed footage, as little by little everything came into balance. Wild life came back, bees, worms, insects and birds, even owls, to keep the small rodent populations in check. The soil made a dramatic transformation which carried a most hopeful message. No matter how far we go to thwart nature, it can recover, it wants to recover. If we work with it, follow its rules, balance, diversity and harmony can come back and thrive.

The films depiction of the gradual progress, with plenty of set backs and discouraging moments, made you see that things take time, that some things aren’t as they seem, and sometimes good surprises come on the heels of bad ones.

I’ve always felt strongly that nature knows better than man. All through history there are man vs nature moments where we think we’ve out smarted her.

But we never have.

Remember Chernobyl? Last we heard there was a nuclear disaster there and everything was leveled. Today, it’s a thriving patch of wild life because all the people left and wanted nothing more to do with it. Time and nature. Give nature enough time…

I do my best to support sustainable farms. I feel the most hopeful when I see this becoming a mainstream practice. I happily search for and pay for better quality food because I like to believe that the more mainstream and typical it becomes, the more widespread and assessable for everyone it will be. As we allow the planet to be more healthy, we might all have the chance to be also. That is my hope. Health. Mind, body, and soul health. Time and patience with healthy practices might lead to balance and harmonious living. You never know, but it’s worth a try.

I love so many foods. Awarding just one the title of most delicious is impossible. So sorry.

I’ve had some amazing Indian curries. Enjoyed exceptional pastries in France, maybe the best roasted chicken there as well. Butter and cheese in Ireland. I’ve eaten fantastic pizza in a handful of places, enjoyed a memorable meal in San Francisco of inspired Italian. Mussels that ruin it for other mussel dishes right here in Mystic, salads that burst with freshness and flavor. Sushi right out of the ocean, street tacos, fajitas, red beans and rice. Peaches or cherries at their perfect seasonal peak. Even plums straight from the tree. Don’t get me started on desserts! or cookies, or coffee or or or…

I can’t help my love of well prepared food. Well served food. Love infused food. Food that is both simple, yet perfect. Fresh or cooked, I would not call myself a ‘foodie’ because this extends into practically every aspect of my life. I just love (so much) deliciousness and beauty.

Forced? Yikes! Does anyone else need more information? How? Why?

I get a lot of wear from my yoga pants. Sure, ok, force me to wear Lulus

Or my latest constant, cut off shorts. Denim or white. White feels a little more dressy(?)

Or, since it’s been so hot into the evenings and nights lately, my new favorite pajamas are men’s cotton boxers. Very comfortably cool. You know the plaid ones, I bought a three pair pack for only $7.99. I might be fine being forced to wear those (to sleep in anyway).

But what if I want to go out? None of these would work. Change of weather? Again, it’s been brilliantly summer-time hot, but that won’t last…

As much as I’m fine with wearing these things, I really hope I am never forced to wear any one thing over and over, it sounds sad. Judging by what I chose, I guess you can tell, I’m not the uniform type.

Such a loaded question…

I think everyone has a different version of things spiritual.

Some love their religion, whereas some have no use for religion at all. Some are very solid in practical life with no need for spiritual discussion or thought, while others thrive when they feel connected to something beyond their humaness.

Faith, belief, hmmm

Where am I? It might depend on the day. I’ve had moments…

I’m a little intuitive, probably from being artistic. You could say ‘sensitive’ which has been both blessing, but just as often, a bit of a curse. I’m affected by energy. Is that spiritual? I get physically uncomfortable, even ill, when energy is conflicted or extra low for extended periods.

As a kid I had no context for why this was, and was constantly, in some sort of trouble for my ultra sensitivity, which was no fun and often confusing. Religion only added to my confusion.

It’s funny how I’m living some of the same kinds of things I felt as a kid, with no religion at all. I’m older now, and know myself better, so I’m not trying to change or be different or live up to any standards. At this point, I can stand back and watch at a safe distance as life moves to a different beat than mine.

I feel like it’s all an education. Spiritual matters are so personal. How anyone does life is a personal thing. How do I? Well. I strive every day to be the best me that I can be. I do what I can to maintain my most comfortable frequency. I love serrindipity and nature. I love balance. I love harmony. I love energy. I love being part of the vast orchestra that is this awe inspiring universe. I don’t know enough to understand how most of it all works, but I love how it does.

How DO I care for myself? What do I practice? What is something I do over and over and feel fairly better at for having practiced?

I guess yoga. Yoga is one thing that I would say I’m better at and get better at the more I do it. These days I’m lucky enough to have a class every day. It’s a different teacher each time and I can feel a nice difference in my strength, my balance and my mood. But you aren’t supposed to be trying to get anywhere they always tell you, Just show up and breathe, and truthfully I’m not. I love yoga because going feels good, being there feels good, when I leave I always feel better than when I got there, the bonus is that I can feel a positive difference developing over time. More awareness, more flexibility, more openness, more love for this body, more self acceptance, Lots of good stuff…

I like to think most of my life is intentional enough that I’m not wasting time. I work hard to plan out my days, to balance the things that I have to do with plenty of things that I want to do.

But then again, sometimes I get caught up in too much over thinking which is truly nothing more than a waste of my time. Or I let circumstances get to me.

Complainy thoughts. I’d like to ban those. I recently decided to make a point to just find more positives. Like things to listen to, or watch or talk about. Because that low vibration that comes from negativity is hard to exist in. It zaps my energy. Quite literally I think it exhausts me. It zaps fun, it zaps my enthusiasm, it’s not my natural frequency .

It’s been most of a week since I decided to turn the tables on how my mornings go. Sometimes the smallest shifts can make huge differences.

Oh I like this game. It’s one of my favorite things, in fact.

It could be a smell, or a song, or a food and right away, I’m taken right back. This is the closest thing to time travel that I know of. My kids never knew my young active grandfather, but they know about him and his garden and the magical cottage of my very young child self. I held those memories for literally a lifetime, but shared them with my kids through food.

There are several foods that I can name here that will do this time transport trick, but one came to mind immediately.

Toasted tomatoes sandwiches.

I know, I know, sounds pretty boring.

Some people won’t even try one, or they want to add cheese or other ingredients. Usually if they can let go and accept the simplicity, they LOVE them. It’s simple, but very specific,

First you need the highest quality peak of the season, ripe tomato. The flavor of the tomato is paramount. Good bread is a plus, but if it toasts up well, most bread will do. my grandpa grew those giant sandwich size tomatoes and they were super sweet and flavorful. One bite of a super delicious tomato and bam, my eight year old self is back at the cottage in the late summer, probably with a pink crème soda mustache, sun burned and wet from swimming in the waves.

Mayo. If you make it yourself with avocado oil, points for you, but a good quality one, that is not sweet is fine.

Butter/and or coconut oil.

Salt and pepper

That’s it. You have to eat it as soon as it’s made, yes, immediately. My grandfather was not an actual foodie, but he cared and was the best cook I knew. (I was a little kid, but I still knew the difference between cooking because you have to and loving to cook).

Hot, perfectly golden toasted toast, melted butter, and plenty of it, a bit of mayo, salt and pepper to taste, sliced tomatoes right from the garden (not the fridge). All key.

The juicy tomato makes the perfect sauce as it mingles with the butter and mayo. (Some people don’t like mayonnaise , but this is somehow different).

When I had a garden, I made these for everyone all through tomato season. People who knew me then, will still ask if I’ll make them one. I would, only, again with the tomatoes.

This year, tomato plants are planted…

Hoping sandwiches will be a future option. (I have some doubters to win over)

How? I guess it doesn’t matter.

I gave up thinking I could change the world years ago. I still love when young people make it a goal. Lofty prehaps, but good hearted.

People do do things that are impactful. I salute the effort. I support being inspirational. it happens, absolutely.

My blog is a fun little outlet for me. I never heard back from the publisher. I think enough time has passed to assume that isn’t happening. My book was my why. Now? I don’t know.

Hmmm

I guess I’ll try again. Why not?

Meanwhile, I’ve sold and given away hundreds of my other book. People always love it. It’s a tiny thing, but you know, very tiny.

I’m currently in a season of life that is mind boggling enough to keep me distracted. I could use some redirection probably…some focus? Yeah, focus

What was the question? I forgot…