There is hope before winter
In the vibrant hues arranged in rows
Firey pigments unequivocated
Reminding me of cozy warmth passing
Joining with soft expanses in hues of green
And beige soon to be covered in winters
Angry flurry. Leaves fallen brown and dead below
Trees now stark and shadowy
I wait with cold, empty hands for promiced snow
As strong howls whip
Through one ear and out the other
I am hearing, yet winter's warning remains unheeded
Barren branches stretch toward heaven
Silently questioning and shivering with the wind
Trying to stand against the gusts of life alone, yet together.
Fighting, wrestling, rustling against life's questions
In the questioning
There is hope
But first winter must take his turn
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Recipe of the Week: Cookies
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:
I used to dislike Oatmeal cookies until I came upon this recipe.
Makes 42 cookies
1 cup butter, softened (or 1/2 cup coconut oil and 1/2 cup butter softened)
1 cup brown sugar (OR 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar (but it can be any combination or just honey)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (OR whole wheat flour or a mixture of both)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I usually omit the salt completely especially if using salted butter)
3 cups old fashioned oats (the original recipe calls for quick oats)
1 cup combined: chopped walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds etc.
1 cup chocolate chips (I like the mini semi-sweets but have used dark chocolate too!)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325
In a large bowl, cream together the butter/coconut oil, brown sugar (and/or honey), and white sugar until smooth.
Beat in eggs one at a time.
Stir in vanilla and rum extracts.
Fold the flour, baking soda, and salt (optional) with the creamed mixture until just blended.
Mix in oats, nut/seed mix, and chocolate chips.
Drop medium spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This will minimize falling apart.
Baker's Notes:
The original recipe suggests baking at 325 F for 12 minutes. Depending on your oven's reliability and the desired level of chewiness or crunchiness you're trying to achieve, you can decide how long and how hot to bake them.
I usually set them to bake at a little lower than 325 degrees F and because our oven is unreliable I'll check them at 10 minutes and leave them in slightly longer if they're completely moist. However, I often take them out when still gooey and bubbling to get the maximum soft chewiness possible.
We also seem to add more chocolate chips than it calls for :0)
Happy Cookie baking!
I used to dislike Oatmeal cookies until I came upon this recipe.
Makes 42 cookies
1 cup butter, softened (or 1/2 cup coconut oil and 1/2 cup butter softened)
1 cup brown sugar (OR 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar (but it can be any combination or just honey)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (OR whole wheat flour or a mixture of both)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I usually omit the salt completely especially if using salted butter)
3 cups old fashioned oats (the original recipe calls for quick oats)
1 cup combined: chopped walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds etc.
1 cup chocolate chips (I like the mini semi-sweets but have used dark chocolate too!)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325
In a large bowl, cream together the butter/coconut oil, brown sugar (and/or honey), and white sugar until smooth.
Beat in eggs one at a time.
Stir in vanilla and rum extracts.
Fold the flour, baking soda, and salt (optional) with the creamed mixture until just blended.
Mix in oats, nut/seed mix, and chocolate chips.
Drop medium spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This will minimize falling apart.
Baker's Notes:
The original recipe suggests baking at 325 F for 12 minutes. Depending on your oven's reliability and the desired level of chewiness or crunchiness you're trying to achieve, you can decide how long and how hot to bake them.
I usually set them to bake at a little lower than 325 degrees F and because our oven is unreliable I'll check them at 10 minutes and leave them in slightly longer if they're completely moist. However, I often take them out when still gooey and bubbling to get the maximum soft chewiness possible.
We also seem to add more chocolate chips than it calls for :0)
Happy Cookie baking!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friendship Love Marriage : poetically Tuesday
For our first year anniversary:
Late night walks
Sharing
Coffee
Discussion
Moping
Grasses
Meeting
I miss
You
Collecting rocks
Caring
Truly
Lesson
Coping
Taking classes
Greeting
I kiss
You
Evening talks
Marrying
Newly
Blessin'
Hoping
Time passes
Reading
Bliss is
You
Late night walks
Sharing
Coffee
Discussion
Moping
Grasses
Meeting
I miss
You
Collecting rocks
Caring
Truly
Lesson
Coping
Taking classes
Greeting
I kiss
You
Evening talks
Marrying
Newly
Blessin'
Hoping
Time passes
Reading
Bliss is
You
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Week in Review!
This week was hectic at work as I was supposed to get Monday and Tuesday nights off. I worked on Monday night because the scheduled B shift person didn't show up and the scheduled C shift person had to work the B shift instead. So then, I was going to get Tuesday and Wednesday off but worked on Wednesday night because the girl who was supposed to work the C shift got into a car accident on her way to work and was taken to emergency. So I got Tuesday and Thursday off instead. This worked out beautifully as Jeff had Friday off so we could go out with Josh and Carolyn on Thursday night without worrying about me getting back for work... more on Thursday evening later.
On Tuesday we went to eat at Burgerville and were excited to discover a cheaper menu that had been hidden from us on previous outings to Burgerville- maybe we just weren't as observant or the more expensive options called out to us louder than the cheaper ones. So instead of the usual $20.00 we spend when we eat there, we spent less than $9.00 and had just as much food. Our budget was glad and our tummies were full!!
We went to McMenamins on Thursday night and saw the movie Inception with Josh and Carolyn. It was fabulous! We got a big pizza to share all really enjoyed watching the movie together.
On Friday I got a new library card and put some books on hold! :0) After going to the Library, we decided to drive through Damascus (a rural gem just outside of Portland) -although we didn't quite know how to get there. So we drove around the rural parts of Gresham first until we miraculously came upon a highway with a sign pointing us towards Damascus. It was so random that we found it. The fields filled with vibrant autumn colors were absolutely indescribable. I attempted to describe parts of what we saw in a poem I wrote which will be posted not this Tuesday but the next (11/30.) We ooo'd and ahhh'd our way through the countryside and have come to the conclusion we want to buy a home on one acre of land. On our way back, we stopped at this little farmer's stand on the side of the road. It was raining slightly which added to its charm. We bought a big bag of lettuce, red potatoes, a jalapeno pepper, an apple (it tasted like cherries!), and a juicy red pear.
Also on Friday, we went out to lunch at Chu's with Carolyn and played Rock Band in the basement.
Jeff and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary this week (Saturday)! We are celebrating by making our favorite meals together this next week. Saturday morning we made pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, pears, and had peach champagne to drink :0) Jeff requested the day off but unfortunately i had to work that night so I slept most of the day away. We opted not to got to our favorite Restaurant (Bread and Ink), which supports both local farms and grass-fed meat, because we had already celebrated in the restaurant category quite a bit already this month and had exceeded our restaurant budget 3 times over! There is really nothing like home-cooked meals where we both participate in the preparations so we were happy to stay home. :0)
First frost of the season came this morning, Sunday, which meant I had to scrape ice off my car for the first time ever which was both exciting and exhausting. Thankfully my coworker, (the one who got in the car accident) offered to help! It would have taken 4 times as long by myself. I'm such a California girl when it comes to stuff like this and have absolutely no clue. The weatherman forecasted the first snow of the season today but I've slept for most of it so thankfully I am unaware of the weather conditions outside. Brrrrr.
On Tuesday we went to eat at Burgerville and were excited to discover a cheaper menu that had been hidden from us on previous outings to Burgerville- maybe we just weren't as observant or the more expensive options called out to us louder than the cheaper ones. So instead of the usual $20.00 we spend when we eat there, we spent less than $9.00 and had just as much food. Our budget was glad and our tummies were full!!
We went to McMenamins on Thursday night and saw the movie Inception with Josh and Carolyn. It was fabulous! We got a big pizza to share all really enjoyed watching the movie together.
On Friday I got a new library card and put some books on hold! :0) After going to the Library, we decided to drive through Damascus (a rural gem just outside of Portland) -although we didn't quite know how to get there. So we drove around the rural parts of Gresham first until we miraculously came upon a highway with a sign pointing us towards Damascus. It was so random that we found it. The fields filled with vibrant autumn colors were absolutely indescribable. I attempted to describe parts of what we saw in a poem I wrote which will be posted not this Tuesday but the next (11/30.) We ooo'd and ahhh'd our way through the countryside and have come to the conclusion we want to buy a home on one acre of land. On our way back, we stopped at this little farmer's stand on the side of the road. It was raining slightly which added to its charm. We bought a big bag of lettuce, red potatoes, a jalapeno pepper, an apple (it tasted like cherries!), and a juicy red pear.
Also on Friday, we went out to lunch at Chu's with Carolyn and played Rock Band in the basement.
Jeff and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary this week (Saturday)! We are celebrating by making our favorite meals together this next week. Saturday morning we made pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, pears, and had peach champagne to drink :0) Jeff requested the day off but unfortunately i had to work that night so I slept most of the day away. We opted not to got to our favorite Restaurant (Bread and Ink), which supports both local farms and grass-fed meat, because we had already celebrated in the restaurant category quite a bit already this month and had exceeded our restaurant budget 3 times over! There is really nothing like home-cooked meals where we both participate in the preparations so we were happy to stay home. :0)
First frost of the season came this morning, Sunday, which meant I had to scrape ice off my car for the first time ever which was both exciting and exhausting. Thankfully my coworker, (the one who got in the car accident) offered to help! It would have taken 4 times as long by myself. I'm such a California girl when it comes to stuff like this and have absolutely no clue. The weatherman forecasted the first snow of the season today but I've slept for most of it so thankfully I am unaware of the weather conditions outside. Brrrrr.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Recipe of the week: Potato Leek Soup
I realize that I've already mentioned this recipe
but I can't get over how easy it is with just 5 ingredients!
Yields 2 servings.
Ingredients:
1 and 1/3 cup Organic Chicken Broth
3 Potatoes
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
5 ounces Bacon
1 Leek
Preparation:
Set aside 1 & 1/3rd cup chicken broth
Cube potatoes
Chop leeks into thin slices
Set aside 1/3 cup of heavy cream (in fridge)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring chicken Broth and cubed potatoes to a boil.
Reduce heat and cook over medium heat for approximately 35-40 minutes.
Meanwhile, brown Bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Blot bacon and set aside to cool
Reserve the bacon grease in the pan.
Saute the leeks in bacon grease for 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice or crumble bacon into small pieces.
Stir in the leeks, heavy cream and bacon in with the tender potatoes.
Remove from heat.
Serve hot and enjoy!
(Is also excellent served cold the next morning!)
I found the recipe on allrecipes.com one of my favorite sites for cooking tips and ideas. It is such a great website because you can change the serving sizes to suit your family or number of guests.
Unfortunately we gobbled it all up before I could take out my camera... Next time we make it though, I will be sure to capture the deliciousness in a snapshot and post it here for you all to see.
but I can't get over how easy it is with just 5 ingredients!
Yields 2 servings.
Ingredients:
1 and 1/3 cup Organic Chicken Broth
3 Potatoes
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
5 ounces Bacon
1 Leek
Preparation:
Set aside 1 & 1/3rd cup chicken broth
Cube potatoes
Chop leeks into thin slices
Set aside 1/3 cup of heavy cream (in fridge)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring chicken Broth and cubed potatoes to a boil.
Reduce heat and cook over medium heat for approximately 35-40 minutes.
Meanwhile, brown Bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Blot bacon and set aside to cool
Reserve the bacon grease in the pan.
Saute the leeks in bacon grease for 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice or crumble bacon into small pieces.
Stir in the leeks, heavy cream and bacon in with the tender potatoes.
Remove from heat.
Serve hot and enjoy!
(Is also excellent served cold the next morning!)
I found the recipe on allrecipes.com one of my favorite sites for cooking tips and ideas. It is such a great website because you can change the serving sizes to suit your family or number of guests.
Unfortunately we gobbled it all up before I could take out my camera... Next time we make it though, I will be sure to capture the deliciousness in a snapshot and post it here for you all to see.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thankful Thursdays: RAIN
Today, I am thankful for rain in its many forms: The heavy mist, drizzle, light pitter-patter,the gushes, the pouring, the sheets, the thunderstorms. I'm thankful for the way it smells against the pavement and the grass, for the way it sounds against the roof of my apartment as it rocks me to sleep, for the way it feels like cool pin pricks on my skin, for the way it nourishes each nook and cranny of earth it touches, the way it feeds the plants and helps them grow. Rain is life giving. I am thankful for the rain.
When I was little, playing in the rain was just something we did-probably because it didn't rain all too often- and it was real a treat. We'd get on our rain gear. Yellow and red ponchos with matching rubber boots. We'd twirl our pink and purple umbrellas, stomp in the puddles, all while laughing gleefully when the splashes drenched our legs. While other mothers pulled their children inside and told them to stop splashing in the puddles, my sister and I got to experience the beauty that is rain. I am thankful for fond memories of the rain.
One particular evening as a Freshman at Calvin in Michigan, which I've been told is the third cloudiest state, I got to relive my childhood delight of rain-playing. It was pouring heavier than I'd ever seen in my life... a real thunderstorm! A few girls from my dorm and I decided we were sick of paper writing so we ran outside to play on Commons Lawn. I could have filled a bucket with the amount of water held in my sopping hair. Our clothing stuck to our skin like duct-tape as we danced in the rain and shouted things we were thankful for- shouting over the dramatic symphony of gushing rain pounding the grass. It was glorious! I am thankful for friends with whom to play in the rain.
Not sure when my attitude shifted from feeling like it was a treat to play in the rain to dreading even the slightest drizzle. All too often now I have the attitude of "It better not rain today... because I have such and such to do." It was hard moving from where it seldom rains in Southern California to Portland where it seems to rain constantly- especially this time of year. In fact, prior to my move, I was nervous that I wouldn't adjust well. Perhaps my Southern-California-Desert-self isn't used to it being damp outside all the time. But, I have 'survived' my first full four seasons here-and yes, it rained more than I'm used to. However, the seasons this year were particularly mild compared to previous years- or so I'm told. I am thankful that I was able ease into acquaintance with the rain without being bombarded by it.
People from past generations don't seem to feel they are entitled to complain about the rain. For what ever reason, they seem to have a larger degree of patience with the weather and understand that rain is important to the cycle of life. For the sake of the earth, they welcome the rain. Folks from these other generations do not seem to mind that its the earth's turn to be nourished. They understand the dangers of drought while we younger people seem to take the water for granted. Most younger people- often myself included, are more self-involved so we feel entitled to 'better' weather. We tend to forget, don't seem to understand, or just don't care that rain is an ecological necessity. Feeling bummed when it rains, we gripe incessantly about the inconvenience and hardship it imposes. Sometimes I'll even hold off on errands until the next day it doesn't rain. I'm not yet accustomed to going about my business when it rains unlike most people who live in Northwest seem to be. I am thankful for wise people from previous generations and fellow Portlanders who educate me by patiently setting an example of embracing the rain.
The plants and crops need it... even if I feel I could do with out. Ironically it is a bright and blue-skied morning out on this crisp November day. But last night it poured- and while it poured- I was thankful for the rain.
When I was little, playing in the rain was just something we did-probably because it didn't rain all too often- and it was real a treat. We'd get on our rain gear. Yellow and red ponchos with matching rubber boots. We'd twirl our pink and purple umbrellas, stomp in the puddles, all while laughing gleefully when the splashes drenched our legs. While other mothers pulled their children inside and told them to stop splashing in the puddles, my sister and I got to experience the beauty that is rain. I am thankful for fond memories of the rain.
One particular evening as a Freshman at Calvin in Michigan, which I've been told is the third cloudiest state, I got to relive my childhood delight of rain-playing. It was pouring heavier than I'd ever seen in my life... a real thunderstorm! A few girls from my dorm and I decided we were sick of paper writing so we ran outside to play on Commons Lawn. I could have filled a bucket with the amount of water held in my sopping hair. Our clothing stuck to our skin like duct-tape as we danced in the rain and shouted things we were thankful for- shouting over the dramatic symphony of gushing rain pounding the grass. It was glorious! I am thankful for friends with whom to play in the rain.
Not sure when my attitude shifted from feeling like it was a treat to play in the rain to dreading even the slightest drizzle. All too often now I have the attitude of "It better not rain today... because I have such and such to do." It was hard moving from where it seldom rains in Southern California to Portland where it seems to rain constantly- especially this time of year. In fact, prior to my move, I was nervous that I wouldn't adjust well. Perhaps my Southern-California-Desert-self isn't used to it being damp outside all the time. But, I have 'survived' my first full four seasons here-and yes, it rained more than I'm used to. However, the seasons this year were particularly mild compared to previous years- or so I'm told. I am thankful that I was able ease into acquaintance with the rain without being bombarded by it.
People from past generations don't seem to feel they are entitled to complain about the rain. For what ever reason, they seem to have a larger degree of patience with the weather and understand that rain is important to the cycle of life. For the sake of the earth, they welcome the rain. Folks from these other generations do not seem to mind that its the earth's turn to be nourished. They understand the dangers of drought while we younger people seem to take the water for granted. Most younger people- often myself included, are more self-involved so we feel entitled to 'better' weather. We tend to forget, don't seem to understand, or just don't care that rain is an ecological necessity. Feeling bummed when it rains, we gripe incessantly about the inconvenience and hardship it imposes. Sometimes I'll even hold off on errands until the next day it doesn't rain. I'm not yet accustomed to going about my business when it rains unlike most people who live in Northwest seem to be. I am thankful for wise people from previous generations and fellow Portlanders who educate me by patiently setting an example of embracing the rain.
The plants and crops need it... even if I feel I could do with out. Ironically it is a bright and blue-skied morning out on this crisp November day. But last night it poured- and while it poured- I was thankful for the rain.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Book List
I start Wednesday's theme, Book Review, with my book list:
Bring it to the Table: On Farming and Food --Wendell Berry
Fast Food Nation --Eric Schlosser
Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea --Alice Waters
Food Matters-- Mark Bittman
The Locavore Way --Amy Cotler
The Ethical Gourmet --Jay Weinstein
Botany of Desire--Michael Pollan
Omnivores Dilemma--Michael Pollan
Small Wonder--Barbara Kingsolver
Commonwealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet--Jeff Sachs
The Working Poor: Invisible in America--David K Shipler
United States of Americana--Kurt B. Reighley
Financial Peace--Dave Ramsey
Homeland and Other Stories--Barbara Kingsolver
Denialism--Micahel Spector
The Total Money Makeover--Dave Ramsey
Generation Earn--Kimberly Palmer
Exposed--Mark Schapiro
Hot, Flat, Crowded--Thomas L. Friedman
The Progress Paradox--Gregg Easterbrook
The Life You Can Save--Peter Singer
How to Live a Low Carbon Life--Chris Goodall
Life Inc.--Douglas Rushkoff
Give Me Refuge: The Education of a Caretaker--Matt Love
Pedaling Revolution--Jeff Mapes
No Logo--Naomi Klein
The Story of Stuff--Annie Leonard
Becoming Animal: An earthly Cosmology
Broken Open--Elizabeth Lesser
The creative Family-- Amanda Blake Soule
U-Turn--Bruce Grierson
A Poetry Handbook--Mary Oliver
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui--Karen Kingston
The Art of Simple Food--Alice Waters
Home Economics-- Wendell Berry
What to Eat--Marion Nestle
The Urban homestead --KElly Coyne and Erik Knutzen
Country of Marriage--Wendell Berry
The World without Us--Alan Weisman
Green Barbarians--Ellen Sandbeck
The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience
American Wasteland--Johnathan Bloom
The feeding Web--Joan Gussow
Eat More Dirt--Ellen Sandbeck
Better Off: Flipping the switch on Technology--Eric Brende
Second Nature--Michael Pollan
This Organic Life--Joan Gussow
Radical Homemaking-- Shannon Hayes
Natural Capitalism--Paul Hawkin, Amory & L. Hunter Lovins
Last Child in the Woods-- Richard Louv
Drive--Daniel H. Pink
Nurture Shock--Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Green Housekeeping --Ellen Sandbeck
Not so Big Life-- Sarah Susanka
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek--Annie Dillard
I can't wait to go to the library tomorrow!
Bring it to the Table: On Farming and Food --Wendell Berry
Fast Food Nation --Eric Schlosser
Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea --Alice Waters
Food Matters-- Mark Bittman
The Locavore Way --Amy Cotler
The Ethical Gourmet --Jay Weinstein
Botany of Desire--Michael Pollan
Omnivores Dilemma--Michael Pollan
Small Wonder--Barbara Kingsolver
Commonwealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet--Jeff Sachs
The Working Poor: Invisible in America--David K Shipler
United States of Americana--Kurt B. Reighley
Financial Peace--Dave Ramsey
Homeland and Other Stories--Barbara Kingsolver
Denialism--Micahel Spector
The Total Money Makeover--Dave Ramsey
Generation Earn--Kimberly Palmer
Exposed--Mark Schapiro
Hot, Flat, Crowded--Thomas L. Friedman
The Progress Paradox--Gregg Easterbrook
The Life You Can Save--Peter Singer
How to Live a Low Carbon Life--Chris Goodall
Life Inc.--Douglas Rushkoff
Give Me Refuge: The Education of a Caretaker--Matt Love
Pedaling Revolution--Jeff Mapes
No Logo--Naomi Klein
The Story of Stuff--Annie Leonard
Becoming Animal: An earthly Cosmology
Broken Open--Elizabeth Lesser
The creative Family-- Amanda Blake Soule
U-Turn--Bruce Grierson
A Poetry Handbook--Mary Oliver
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui--Karen Kingston
The Art of Simple Food--Alice Waters
Home Economics-- Wendell Berry
What to Eat--Marion Nestle
The Urban homestead --KElly Coyne and Erik Knutzen
Country of Marriage--Wendell Berry
The World without Us--Alan Weisman
Green Barbarians--Ellen Sandbeck
The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience
American Wasteland--Johnathan Bloom
The feeding Web--Joan Gussow
Eat More Dirt--Ellen Sandbeck
Better Off: Flipping the switch on Technology--Eric Brende
Second Nature--Michael Pollan
This Organic Life--Joan Gussow
Radical Homemaking-- Shannon Hayes
Natural Capitalism--Paul Hawkin, Amory & L. Hunter Lovins
Last Child in the Woods-- Richard Louv
Drive--Daniel H. Pink
Nurture Shock--Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Green Housekeeping --Ellen Sandbeck
Not so Big Life-- Sarah Susanka
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek--Annie Dillard
I can't wait to go to the library tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
NIGHT OWL: poetically Tuesday
Soaring high above the snoozing fauna,
Hunting each floor, the gym, and sauna,
Logging patrons in and out of their proper nest
I brew and arrange feed aplenty for each guest.
Making lists of tasks to accomplish is wise
As is detecting and swooping upon each mouse, I surmise.
Working the night stint is getting real rough
I'll stifle my resolve to say enough is enough.
Though frazzled, ruffled, drooping sits this night owl
It'd be wise to endure and not throw in the towel.
Falling asleep as the dawn breaks the earth
When bright grayish cloud-light springs forth without dearth.
Crisp frozen air garners feathery displays
Shivering, fluffing, hooting remain shut-eye delays.
At daylight, off to slumber I'd much rather drift
Than tossing and turning and cursing C-shift.
Hunting each floor, the gym, and sauna,
Logging patrons in and out of their proper nest
I brew and arrange feed aplenty for each guest.
Making lists of tasks to accomplish is wise
As is detecting and swooping upon each mouse, I surmise.
Working the night stint is getting real rough
I'll stifle my resolve to say enough is enough.
Though frazzled, ruffled, drooping sits this night owl
It'd be wise to endure and not throw in the towel.
Falling asleep as the dawn breaks the earth
When bright grayish cloud-light springs forth without dearth.
Crisp frozen air garners feathery displays
Shivering, fluffing, hooting remain shut-eye delays.
At daylight, off to slumber I'd much rather drift
Than tossing and turning and cursing C-shift.
Themes!
As I always seem to have trouble coming up with ideas of things to share here on Double Dekker, I figured I could start themes for each day of the week. Here are my themes:
Week in Review Sunday
Healthful Homemaking Monday
Poetically Tuesday
Book Review Wednesday
Thankfully Thursday
Recipe of the Week Friday
Simply Saturday
Week in Review Sunday: Because every week is special.
Healthful Homemaking Monday: I'm not quite sure what will become of Monday's postings but there are a lot of topics that I have become quite passionate about recently that have to do with the choices that we make on a daily basis that effect our family's well-being.
Poetically Tuesday: As an adult its all too easy to get caught up in the seriousness of life. My ritual of writing poems will be an attempt rekindle my long abandoned creative side. I'd like to attempt to repossess the skill of creativity and this seems just the way to do it!
Wednesday Reader: Reading and life experiences are great ways to accomplish cultural and world exploration. Because my life feels limited in its breadth of experiences lately, reading is a way I can choose to gain knowledge and examine the world without leaving the comforts of my living room! I don't think I'll attempt to read one book a week but when I do finish a book or a chapter I like, I'll write a blurb about it here.
Thankfully Thursday: When I was growing up Thursdays were my least favorite day of the week. It always seemed to rain on Thursdays. It was not yet Friday but it was far enough along in the week that I began to grow weary. Now that it rains everyday here in Portland, I've decided to change my tune about Thursdays and dwell on gratitude instead. Not just because Thanksgiving is around the corner but because its always good to be mindful and abundant in the expression of thankfulness!
Recipe of the Week Friday: Recipe of the week is more for me to share a meal idea from the week so I can keep myself in check. This will help me remember that I need to be creative in the kitchen instead of just serving mac 'n cheese and ramen which have been staples in our home for the past few weeks. It will help me be motivated to make something fun and try something new if I have to share a new recipe on my blog. Also In the Kitchen is already a prominent 'label' on this blog so it should be pretty easy.
Simply Saturday: Simple living is a big idea that weighs on both Jeff's and my hearts. Saturdays will be an ode to minimalism.
Obviously it is important to keep in mind that I am in no way an expert on any of these topics but I am just passionate about them and would like to share snippets from Jeff's and my life together.
Week in Review Sunday
Healthful Homemaking Monday
Poetically Tuesday
Book Review Wednesday
Thankfully Thursday
Recipe of the Week Friday
Simply Saturday
Week in Review Sunday: Because every week is special.
Healthful Homemaking Monday: I'm not quite sure what will become of Monday's postings but there are a lot of topics that I have become quite passionate about recently that have to do with the choices that we make on a daily basis that effect our family's well-being.
Poetically Tuesday: As an adult its all too easy to get caught up in the seriousness of life. My ritual of writing poems will be an attempt rekindle my long abandoned creative side. I'd like to attempt to repossess the skill of creativity and this seems just the way to do it!
Wednesday Reader: Reading and life experiences are great ways to accomplish cultural and world exploration. Because my life feels limited in its breadth of experiences lately, reading is a way I can choose to gain knowledge and examine the world without leaving the comforts of my living room! I don't think I'll attempt to read one book a week but when I do finish a book or a chapter I like, I'll write a blurb about it here.
Thankfully Thursday: When I was growing up Thursdays were my least favorite day of the week. It always seemed to rain on Thursdays. It was not yet Friday but it was far enough along in the week that I began to grow weary. Now that it rains everyday here in Portland, I've decided to change my tune about Thursdays and dwell on gratitude instead. Not just because Thanksgiving is around the corner but because its always good to be mindful and abundant in the expression of thankfulness!
Recipe of the Week Friday: Recipe of the week is more for me to share a meal idea from the week so I can keep myself in check. This will help me remember that I need to be creative in the kitchen instead of just serving mac 'n cheese and ramen which have been staples in our home for the past few weeks. It will help me be motivated to make something fun and try something new if I have to share a new recipe on my blog. Also In the Kitchen is already a prominent 'label' on this blog so it should be pretty easy.
Simply Saturday: Simple living is a big idea that weighs on both Jeff's and my hearts. Saturdays will be an ode to minimalism.
Obviously it is important to keep in mind that I am in no way an expert on any of these topics but I am just passionate about them and would like to share snippets from Jeff's and my life together.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Little Bit Goes a Long Way
With the vibrant changing leaves, the cooler crisp air, and consecutive rainy days- the beginning of my favorite month, November, started out with both of us falling ill. Jeff was fraught with the sniffles and a hacking cough while I suffered more flu-like symptoms and my own version of Jeff's cough and cold... (thanks babe.) Luckily, we happened upon our weekends (Tuesday and Wednesday) together so we could rest and heal our weary bodies and tired minds. After getting 15 hours of sleep on Monday, Tuesday we lazed about- I was in no mood to do anything and Jeff is eager for days of pure relaxation- even when free of illness. By Wednesday we were both feeling slightly more energetic, a bit stir-crazy, and thus ready to take on our long awaited project: simplifying our apartment. We had already discussed how we were going to rearrange the furniture- I made several drawings of floor plans- and we made lists of items we wanted to share or store.
It was during my lazing about on Tuesday that I happened upon several blogs that were devoted to "minimalism." For both of us, "minimalism" was an entirely new label to a concept that both of us had previously contemplated: eliminating the unnecessary. In the past, the underlying principles of minimalism resonated with both of us as more of a desired ideal than a tangible practice. I read a few blog posts out loud to Jeff and we both grew enthusiastic and energized about organizing and minimizing our unnecessary clutter. Reading the posts gave us momentum to begin the project. However, in the ensuing hours, I was challenged by my realization of how attached to my possessions I really am. Honestly, going through our stuff was not as easy as I would have liked it to be. During the most desperate moments of this project: when most of our possessions were strewn about- Jeff wondered aloud where we had kept all this stuff prior to it filling up our living room and entryway. He had a valid point. Where did we ever have room in our apartment to store all of this stuff? We also wondered why we hadn't done this sooner. Because efforts to simplify and minimize is ever-continuing, we are not striving to proclaim a lifestyle of complete minimalism by any means. We are, however, planning to hold onto and apply what we learn so that our possessions and activities fill our lives with meaning and purpose rather than clutter.
It was during my lazing about on Tuesday that I happened upon several blogs that were devoted to "minimalism." For both of us, "minimalism" was an entirely new label to a concept that both of us had previously contemplated: eliminating the unnecessary. In the past, the underlying principles of minimalism resonated with both of us as more of a desired ideal than a tangible practice. I read a few blog posts out loud to Jeff and we both grew enthusiastic and energized about organizing and minimizing our unnecessary clutter. Reading the posts gave us momentum to begin the project. However, in the ensuing hours, I was challenged by my realization of how attached to my possessions I really am. Honestly, going through our stuff was not as easy as I would have liked it to be. During the most desperate moments of this project: when most of our possessions were strewn about- Jeff wondered aloud where we had kept all this stuff prior to it filling up our living room and entryway. He had a valid point. Where did we ever have room in our apartment to store all of this stuff? We also wondered why we hadn't done this sooner. Because efforts to simplify and minimize is ever-continuing, we are not striving to proclaim a lifestyle of complete minimalism by any means. We are, however, planning to hold onto and apply what we learn so that our possessions and activities fill our lives with meaning and purpose rather than clutter.
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