1. Frozen yogurt with my mom and her best friend, Nini.
2. This video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc&feature=player_embedded
3. A couple days ago my mom lent me Making the Connection by Bob Greene and Oprah. It has been really inspiring, I think in part, because of it's simplicity. What I realized as I was reading this book was that I haven't been exercising hard enough. I have a hard time remembering to walk fast, and in Tucson there aren't very many hills. So I end up strolling along every day for an hour or so but not really getting good cardiovascular exercise. I do better at the gym because I set the elliptical machine or bike on a setting that will make me work harder. So for the past few days I've been consciously making an effort to walk fast enough to sweat and get a little out of breath. I'm grateful for this reminder, especially as I try to healthily drop 10 pounds that I need to perhaps push a little harder. And really, even though the book was written in 1996 and has some outdated nutritional information, it was worth reading!
4. some clarity
5. Clover's sweet nature
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Today's Good Things
The last few days I've had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with my family--I've seen my mom, my aunt and my sister in law. There have been lots of great long walks and delicious food. I guess that's what my family does, walks and eats. It's not just me! Sometimes when you are far from home you think that certain things are unique to how you are operate and then come home to find out the whole tribe loves the same things. It's nice to be part of a tribe, especially a functional one who's members love each other.
Today I spent the day alone though, well alone with Clover. We hung around all morning, relaxing and drinking tea, then I went to Collage--a mixed media supply place here in Portland. It was really neat, I bought some metallic eco-friendly paints and a couple of other odds and ends.
Then I discovered this place:
My desire to do more urban homesteading is not dead, it's just been dormant. I'm still going to have chickens, I'm just waiting for the right time. Eric is really into the idea of keeping bees. I would like to grow more food, though I'm not sure if I'll have a big summer garden in Tucson this summer. It takes a lot of water...and my tomatoes tasted TERRIBLE! Maybe what I am really saying here is that I will be happy to buy my tomatoes at the farmers' market and grow some other things myself.
Portland is pretty amazing...I feel like I can only take in so much awesomeness and then I have to retreat. So after I went to Collage and the homesteading supply place I stopped by New Seasons Market to buy a few things for lunch and then headed home. My lunch was GREAT! One of my favorite Portland foods is the meatballs at New Seasons. They are chicken teriyaki and have chunks of ginger, onion and other yummy things in them. MMM! I love them. I also got a little bit of the Sweet Potato Salad and the Macaroni and Cheese Salad which I ate a few bites of with two oranges at home. I'm happy that there's still more of both salads as I got 1/2 pints of each.
I stayed here for awhile playing with Clover and made a valentine then we headed down to the river to go for a walk. We walked for about an hour and towards the end it started to sprinkle. I love the sound of rain drops.
Tonight we are staying in, drinking tea and making more valentines. I just had this delicious snack for first dinner:
It's toasted pita with lebni (yogurt cheese) and olive tapenade, also had some sugar snap peas and a clementine. Yesterday I went shopping with Julie, my sis in law at Barbur World Foods and got also sorts of treats! For the record this store ROCKS. How many places do you see a selection of seven different kinds of ghee?
Isn't Clover adorable? Mmm, love that kid! Here she is between naps:
Love from Portland.
Today I spent the day alone though, well alone with Clover. We hung around all morning, relaxing and drinking tea, then I went to Collage--a mixed media supply place here in Portland. It was really neat, I bought some metallic eco-friendly paints and a couple of other odds and ends.
Then I discovered this place:
My desire to do more urban homesteading is not dead, it's just been dormant. I'm still going to have chickens, I'm just waiting for the right time. Eric is really into the idea of keeping bees. I would like to grow more food, though I'm not sure if I'll have a big summer garden in Tucson this summer. It takes a lot of water...and my tomatoes tasted TERRIBLE! Maybe what I am really saying here is that I will be happy to buy my tomatoes at the farmers' market and grow some other things myself.
Portland is pretty amazing...I feel like I can only take in so much awesomeness and then I have to retreat. So after I went to Collage and the homesteading supply place I stopped by New Seasons Market to buy a few things for lunch and then headed home. My lunch was GREAT! One of my favorite Portland foods is the meatballs at New Seasons. They are chicken teriyaki and have chunks of ginger, onion and other yummy things in them. MMM! I love them. I also got a little bit of the Sweet Potato Salad and the Macaroni and Cheese Salad which I ate a few bites of with two oranges at home. I'm happy that there's still more of both salads as I got 1/2 pints of each.
I stayed here for awhile playing with Clover and made a valentine then we headed down to the river to go for a walk. We walked for about an hour and towards the end it started to sprinkle. I love the sound of rain drops.
Tonight we are staying in, drinking tea and making more valentines. I just had this delicious snack for first dinner:
Isn't Clover adorable? Mmm, love that kid! Here she is between naps:
Love from Portland.
Friday, February 3, 2012
A long vacation
Clover and I have gone to Portland, Oregon for a month of family, trees and quiet relaxation. So far it has been nothing but lovely. Every February it seems there is one week of sunshine in a winter of darkness. We are lucky to have shown up just in time, it's in the 50's and beautiful.
Grateful:
I've been here two days and have already had tea with Julie, my sister in law, dinner with my mom and her friend, and lunch and a walk with my mom. It feels WONDERFUL to be with them.
There is a skylight in my bathroom and from my morning bath I watched the tree branches moving with the wind.
I am catching up on sleep.
Yesterday Clover and I went for two hour long walks in the sun and today, one.
Tonight I am going to Friends of the Dhamma, the meditation community I sat with almost every week when I lived here. I am so looking forward to going back.
This weekend my mom and I are making a variation of these: http://www.bewellwithsue.com/best-kale-chip/
(Sorry the link didn't show up the first time.)
Grateful:
I've been here two days and have already had tea with Julie, my sister in law, dinner with my mom and her friend, and lunch and a walk with my mom. It feels WONDERFUL to be with them.
There is a skylight in my bathroom and from my morning bath I watched the tree branches moving with the wind.
I am catching up on sleep.
Yesterday Clover and I went for two hour long walks in the sun and today, one.
Tonight I am going to Friends of the Dhamma, the meditation community I sat with almost every week when I lived here. I am so looking forward to going back.
This weekend my mom and I are making a variation of these: http://www.bewellwithsue.com/best-kale-chip/
(Sorry the link didn't show up the first time.)
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