Posts Tagged ‘spring’

First Day of Summer

// June 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Longest day of the year. There was a time when I considered that a good thing.
Do what we can, summer will have its flies.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tea tonight: Heavenly Tea Green Walnut

Broken

// May 25th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

They look harmless enough – thin blades of grass, wispy weeds, compact single dandelions, gangly spearmint – wandering far from it’s original home. Who knew (certainly I never considered) that these once-welcomed signs of spring could undo months of faithful stretching, strengthening, and coddling to an allegedly healing back? Blades of grass, thin, but seemingly stronger than the nerves that cause the knee-buckling pain that shoots and numbs and throws one’s gait off balance enough to cruelly remind me that I am not the same person who once attacked these misguided sprouts with reckless abandon and put them into submission. They used to fear me. Now they mock me into feeling as broken and useless and beaten as I must have once made them feel. It’s as if every time another birdseed fell to take up residence in a once pristine bed of river rock, an osteophyte grew on those vertebrae. Jagged edges of bone, refusing to give way to the bending, twisting, squatting that in years past left behind only gentle reminders of forgotten muscles. It’s time. I’ve heard the message loud and clear – “Move on to simpler and less, while there’s still time.” Quickly now, don’t “dilly-dally,” as Dad used to say. Be ready for the unexpected. I’m intent on viewing this not as a punishment or a burden, but an opportunity to stay faithful. I must. For in faith is our only hope. And not everything that is broken must remain that way.
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:3.

Tea today: Genmaicha

My favorite ‘room in the house…

// May 20th, 2008 // No Comments » // Family, My Fabulous Life

…but it won’t be here long :-( It’s morel mushroom time and the crop is beautiful! Mom brought me two big bags from her hunting expedition. We did the traditional “fry ‘em up” this weekend, but tonight I had a wonderful morel cream sauce with wine over my tilapia. Yes, it’s possible to make a healthy “cream” sauce with skim milk. You just have to be creative, patient, and know when to stop (eating). It was tough tonight, but since I was dining alone I only made enough for me.

When I’m 83, I still want to be able to hunt mushrooms. I still won’t know how, I just want to be able to. That, and a thousand other things. Kudos to my mom for keeping on keeping on.
Tea tonight: China Green Tips

Strides around the lake

// April 21st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

After some long overdue spring straightening, decluttering, and cleaning, today was just too vernal to not do the Prairie Lake route for the first time this year. It’s finally out from under the flood waters, enough time had been spent with laundry, cleaning and dinner prep, and well, I did it because I could. Praise God for that. “Mr. Piriformis” was fairly kind to me – but he deserved a major stretch (more like a beating) when I got home. Rascal Flatts rang true about the last hundred yards.

‘Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you’re made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you’ve had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
….Then you Stand
There were a lot more people out there shaking off more than bulging L4-L5′s. Lots of courage walks that trail. Everyone has a story. And all of the cute puppies romping made me a bit nostalgic for when I had a romper, as opposed to a limper. Beautiful spring mold smell (is that even possible?) but you can almost hear those prairie flowers and grasses just aching to bust loose. It was invigorating, made me starving for our dinner – wild mushroom and brown rice risotto with (YES!) the first of the spring chives and just a smidgen of asiago. Sauteed brussels sprouts with proscuitto and pine nuts, oh, and the pork loin for the meat eater of the family. (Who was up and at ‘em today, but significantly overdid working on VM’s yard…the ultimate “intensity violator”). Dishes are done, lunch is packed, and it’s most pleasantly exhausted in here tonight. Sweet dreams are in the plan. It’s going to be a beautiful sleep – our bullfrog’s back in the pond in all his glory. Sorry, neighbors, but he rocks my spring.

Tea today: “Beginner’s Mind” Sencha Green with Cherry Essence. Sorta smells like Uncle Jack’s pipe.