Winter Abstract

Light on snow

Cobbles

Reflections...

of stars..

Everywhere

snow seat

Chipping away

Bits of spring hiding in winter

Rusting away..

Lately Faces & Places

Christmas Eve Sunrise facing North

Ringo!

We received almost two feet of fresh snow on the Winter Solstice. Awesome!

Our little Christmas tree. We topped a tree on our property as usual.
The fabric tree skirt is an old seasonal tablecloth from my Grandmother and the winter village was a gift from my Mom years ago.

Oh, in early December we visited my Sister and her family in Virginia. These cute little goats were at a nearby farm. So adorable.

Miss Amelia.

We found our way to Harper's Ferry West Virginia too. I love history, especially living history.

My sister in the middle, Amelia in the stroller and myself.

Getting ready for the Christmas parade which Aaron was in, he's getting so big these days.
I hope your holidays were kind and restful.

Simply Being

Timekeeper by Betsy Walton

4 Weeks, just a little over, since the accident. But who's keeping track, right.
Life moves on as it does. I'm healing quickly in some ways and slower in others. I can ride my bike, which is now involuntarily a single speed for the time being due to the accident. I can't run, I tried the other day and had to stop mid way through. Too much pain, discomfort in my abductors/groin and abs. But being able to ride my bike well enough to get out, especially since my accident was on the bike, is a ironic twist of joy. I need work, my bike needs work, I'm working on both of those. I stretch every single morning for 15 minutes now, it is firmly a habit at this point and a good one that took me too long to do.
The shift away from situation normal has been good though, the pin point clarity of what is and is not really that important has been recognized, you always have this abstract idea of that anyway (one would hope) but it is driven deep into your being when something happens, something changes your reality. I feel it's healthy to push yourself but it's also healthy to know when to not push yourself, to step back, set a limit and to come prepared to a gun fight so to speak. Now I am going forward, life goes forward and I am very good with that.
On a side, I've discovered a new favorite dish lately to make in place of a grain such a rice. It's naturally GF, DF and full of fiber, Cauliflower Rice.
In a nutshell you roughly chop up some cauliflower and place in food processor to dice up into small rice like texture, just pulse for a minute. Place in a pan with ghee or butter and saute with mushrooms, leeks, greens and some sea salt, you could add a protein too. Oh so good and savory and simple.
Simply Being.

Murmuration

This is absolutely magical and overwhelming, there is so much beauty and playfulness in life.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Zingy

"You are the sky..everything else is just the weather"

Pema Chodron

Healing, heealinngg, heeeaaaalllllinnng.
Slow and steady. Head is good, stitches out, back and hip not good, not good at all, grindy, zingy, sharp pain, pain. Rehab has started, super focused, ice, heat, stretching, walking a bit, PT tomorrow. I will get there, slow and steady. Stretching for that balance in my body again.

Alley's

Spent some time on tour recently around Colorado, small towns, riding, exploring, resting outside under the autumn sky. Here are some alley shots and some smaller parts of greater wholes.

This tour started out great and ended on the rough side. I hurt myself good testing out gravity a bit and yes it's still a fickle bed mate. More on that later perhaps. Still wondering and evaluating and licking my wounds. You know how cats are when they hurt, you find them under a bed or in the closet somewhere waiting for better days.

Kabocha Soup Time

Kabocha Squash

This is my favorite squash of all time. The flavor is mellow and a bit sweet on it's own. It's great just roasted and eaten plain or thrown into a salad. But my favorite way to use it currently is by making Kabocha Leek soup. Simple, comforting and nourishing on a chilly autumn evening. You'll need:

• 1 medium Kabocha Squash
• 1 medium leek
• water or you can use stock
  
• 1 or 2 T ghee
• sea salt or Herbamare

Cut your Kabocha Squash in half and scoop out seeds, I use an ice scream scoop for this, easy. Place squash in glass dish flesh side down in an inch of water. Roast at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until squash is soft. Let cool and then scoop out flesh or don't, the skin is totally edible and tastes fine.
Heat soup pot with ghee (or whatever oil you like) and add leeks and suate for a few minutes until soft. Add Kabocha and stir and saute a bit more. Then add water, I usually will add about two cups but I eyeball it. I like my soup on the creamy side so I add less water then if you want it thinner. So play with that. Simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes and then lower heat and let simmer for about a half hour. Once everything is cooked together well I use a stick blender to puree everything into a nice creamy soup. At this point I add the salt or herbamare to taste. That's really all there is to it and it's so good. Enjoy!