tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734690883869129232024-02-07T10:21:47.691-08:00CRAVE{ our desires are not too strong, but too weak }Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-88762680815719326192013-07-23T09:24:00.000-07:002013-07-28T20:35:58.417-07:00Savasana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Lately I've hit a really cool ease and peace in my yoga practice. It took me lots of regular practicing, but the strength in weird, stretching, body bending poses that I heard was possible seems sort of tangible now. When you are twisted like a pretzel and your instructor says 'breath into it' you might want to kill them, but that ease of breath in difficult positions is the whole point.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I have a lot of conversations with people about being a Christian doing yoga. Because some Christians think yoga is not Christian. I actually find a lot of symbolism for how Jesus teaches us how to live in the practice of yoga. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Now </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">I'm finding this tricky to express, but I had a realization this morning that was really profound for me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">There is this passage in Luke 9 where Jesus tells his best friends that if they want to be true followers of his way of life they will have to "take up a cross and follow him". Since the "cross" was a symbol of death in those days, that literally meant that they had to be willing to die to live out what Jesus teaches.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">But here is the thing. Taking up our cross usually brings images of a splintery, heavy, giant piece of wood breaking our backs as we heave onto our shoulders. That is not what Jesus was about. He was about bringing ease of breath into every difficult position of life. (See the yoga symbolism here? If not, it's coming.) In another place Jesus said: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: Josefin Slab; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: Josefin Slab; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">I’ll show you how to take a real rest. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">MATTHEW 11:28-30</span><span style="color: #0dc7c7; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"> The Message</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Sometimes I get off course and the religion I turn to - the thing I believe in and guides my life - is to make something of myself: a career, a family, a good reputation, my own happiness. It is an exhausting way to live. That is a religion - a way of life - that leads to total burn out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Another translation of this passage says “<i>Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.</i>” </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Doesn't this sound like Jesus saying 'breath into it, I'm holding you up' to someone who is under the heaviness of life's pressures?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. Y</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">ou will find rest for your souls. </i>I love this imagery. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Most yoga classes end in savasana. A fancy sanskrit word that just means laying on the ground. Savasana is usually 5-10 minutes of stillness to reflect, meditate, maybe sleep. </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">As a praying person, I try to take that time to talk to God and this passage is something I talk to God about a lot in savasana.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Savasana is also called "Corpse Pose". Literally to be dead. Yoga practice is essentially an hour or so of learning to breath into difficult poses ending with rest/death. The connection between 'finding real rest' and 'taking up my cross' or literally 'death' was an epiphany for me today.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">When Jesus talks about 'taking up our cross', which basically means </span>dying<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">, don't we normally think about carrying a splintery, heavy wooden cross to our death? But that is not what He is talking about. He is talking about literally laying down yourself, giving everything over to him, and letting him restore our life. The picture of savasana.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Savasana in Copley Sq, March 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Yoga symbolizes the journey of letting the ease of Jesus' way of life become my way of life</span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Some see Christianity as a set of hard and fast rules against the world. Really it is a way of living in complete freedom in the world. Being able to truly love in times that it is difficult to love, because you are completely free to love.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">If we hang on tightly to our life, if we push through difficult poses, we just make it more difficult and probably get hurt. The goal is to breath freely and lightly in the tight spots. Then we find we are living in the unforced rhythms of Jesus' grace for us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">It takes practice. Life is hard. When we die to ourselves - lay down all our religions and worldly pressures we take on - the abundant life Jesus promised is waiting for us. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Savanasa is a symbol of dying, of real rest, of entering the unforced rhythms of his grace. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-74682229159548298102012-08-21T08:59:00.000-07:002012-08-21T09:06:00.032-07:00Harvest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For the past couple of days it has felt like fall. I may have had something to do with it when I said how much I was looking forward to wearing my sweaters and boots in the middle of the heat wave. Bam! Chilly mornings and cool nights.<br />
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It's refreshing after the blistering heat we had in July. Note: I do not lament the summer heat. I love every season in New England and the heat has been bearable and lovely summer glory. Being from Oklahoma I know that real heat is the 100F+ degrees for weeks on end is more brutal than 80F & 90F even with the high humidity.<br />
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This brush with fall weather reminds me that I need to plant sweet potatoes and harvest my compost.<br />
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I really love porch time. The last week of July S. slumber partied with me and the next morning we had some porch time together. I love porch time with good friends. We did a little compost trial-harvest to plant my long overdue cilantro seeds. Why it took me all summer one will never know, but now I'll have cilantro all autumn long.<br />
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Watching things grow is beautiful. There is always a little fear at first that nothing will sprout and then 2 weeks later you have food. Plus a new living thing to care for. A pastor once said that the seeds had to die and begin decomposing before they would grow. I like that. When we start something new there is often the fear that it won't bring life. Just wait. Often something else may have to die for the new life to begin. An interesting thought I'm going to sit with over coffee on my porch.<br />
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August has been a whirlwind, maybe someday I'll write about it. I've been hanging on tight to Galatians 5 (<a href="http://gypsycrave.blogspot.com/search/label/Galatians%205">July 9, I Never</a>). While I thought I needed more kindness and gentleness in my life, the Spirit is taking me on an epic journey of patience.<br />
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The 31 things for July are far from complete: I have come no where near going to bed before midnight regularly, I talked to no old friends from High School, no letters were written, there was no time for 7 straight days of yoga, I haven't pierced my nose yet and my bedroom redecoration has been minimal. However, I did have a really great July pushing myself to think in new ways about how I use my time. And I'll just keep doing the things I set out to do so it will always be July in my mind.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"There the world began over again every day in an ever new light. O light! This is the cry of all the characters of ancient drama brought face to face with their fate. This last resort was ours, too, and I knew it now. In the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer." - - <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.douban.com/note/47785510/" target="_blank">Albert Camus from Return To Tipasa</a></span></span><br />
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with love & patience.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-53057663179978472572012-07-30T06:37:00.002-07:002012-07-30T08:09:43.826-07:00Red Kicking Dragons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #93c47d;">Soccer Nights</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Check!</span><br />
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Soccer Nights is a one-week free soccer camp that the Vineyard Church started 5 years ago to serve the community. Now it is in 5 locations and they have 2 camps in Cambridge serving a total of 1000 kids across Boston. So cool.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After the downpour on Day 2 we had a full rainbow. Thanks God. </span></td></tr>
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Since I know you have to be flexible when volunteering I played it cool when I found out that instead of Assistant Coaching on the Orange Division of 10-12 year olds as originally assigned, I was switched to a coach in the Red Division - the first graders. And I was ask to <span style="color: #6aa84f;">teach curriculum</span> all week. Bonus new thing. Hmmm... I have never taught plus little kids seem less relatable therefore scarier than bigger kids. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">The Red Division had 4 teams. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Soccer Nights is about trying your hardest, not winning but...my team, the Red Kicking Dragons, did win our Division Championship! They cared for about 2 minutes doing fake fainting on the field and starfish jumps for joy. Then all they wanted was ice cream. Love those kids.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Teaching curriculum made me get creative and more thoughtful about being a part of the week. It was only 15 minutes of teaching and group time and the topics were simple: Names, Homes, Trust, Encouragement and Goals. It ended up being really fun and I used some of the techniques I've picked up from my teacher friends over the years ("If you can hear me touch your nose" sort of stuff) which was a huge help.</span><br />
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In the spirit of the Olympics, throughout the week the coaches gave out gold medals to the kids who were trying their hardest and working well together like using the names of their teammates and being respectful. On night 4 when we talked about encouragement we taught them to high five to encourage each other when someone did something well and then let THEM give out gold medals to their teammates.<br />
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When one little girl on my team volunteered to be the goalie, another little boy said "I'm giving you a gold medal for being the goalie!" She returned with "I'm giving you a gold medal for giving me a gold medal!" and then all the kids on my team started giving each other gold medals. Way to go team!<br />
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This is me and Martin. He made me a heart shaped card on the last night. Heart strings were pulled. He would put water on his hair to make a wet mohawk before our scrimmage each night which made him double adorable.<br />
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I'm going to keep an eye out (in a non-creepy way) for the kids from Soccer Nights that live in my neighborhood. A lot of the kids are from single mother homes or refugee/immigrant families. Hopefully I'll run into some of the kids, get to know their moms and build community in my 'hood.<br />
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What I learned from my week at Soccer Nights:<br />
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<b>Even big kids have to learn to be friends. </b>It was harder to meet and befriend the other coaches than I expected. I had to be really intentional about saying hi and being careful not to be that weird new girl because everyone mostly knew each other. I'm committing right now to going to Soccer Nights volunteer get togethers to make friends with people from other churches. Community is awesome, but still work.<br />
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<b>Little kids want to make you happy.</b> The first graders were the best. While sometimes they have a hard time paying attention, it is really no different than talking to a group of adults who are all distracted by their smart phones. I am happy to say, first graders are now my friends and I fear them no more.<br />
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<b>The real way to turn the other cheek.</b> During training one girl was teasing me ever so slightly during role playing drills. She gave me roles like "crush on the coach" which I took as "you are a flirt because you wore yellow jeans to a soccer training." The other role she bestowed was "brown-noser" which I translated as "you are too eager to volunteer and get attention." In my defense, I was super excited to volunteer. I was going out after training, therefore the yellow jeans, Ok!?<br />
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This all made me a little nervous for Soccer Nights and to see her again. Should I tell her she maybe shouldn't pick on the new people? Should I just avoid her and blow it off? Is she a mean girl? Did SHE really have a crush on the coach? For the 3 days between training and the start of Soccer Nights these thoughts would occasionally creep into my mind.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I had butterflies in my stomach walking to Soccer Nights the first night. </span>Then God taught me to turn the other cheek. She was my division leader. Yay. I decided that turning the other cheek meant more than letting someone hit you in both eyes. It was about letting things go and not taking yourself too seriously.<br />
<br />
When I walked up to her to tell her I was switched to her division and would be her curriculum teacher, she said "Hey, Crush-On-The-Coach!" and I just said "Hey girl!"and then we became friends. Ahhh. The things that get in our heads are so funny. She is not a mean girl. Is a really sweet girl in fact.<br />
<br />
<i>Dear mind, </i><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Stop messing with me and making me take up valuable time and energy to worry about things that aren't real or important. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Love, </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Self</i></span><br />
<br />
Go Red Kicking Dragons!<br />
t</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-47766931889354610622012-07-17T06:53:00.004-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.896-07:00Food Swapping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sunday was the monthly <a href="http://www.bostonfoodswap.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Boston Food Swap</span></a>. On a quiet street in Fort Point 15-20 amateur bakers, cooks, canners, jelly-ers and the like gather together to share their wares. Very Norman Rockwell-esque. Relaxed, friendly and wholesome. The little room was packed with card tables covered with jams, salsa, pickles, breads, cakes and cookies with creative ingredients.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IZjqSvVbJH8NG3cW_fwLEKTVqXb8643x2D5enOALiQ4csQ9MmCxvqfHJiB0u8TmTI6-3lxnfYGl4EgPcIYseWyW4AjpHl1GHUiF1C5C6LKIY7EX9dfcHLKfE3dh5-FkpDosGHMsSwzE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IZjqSvVbJH8NG3cW_fwLEKTVqXb8643x2D5enOALiQ4csQ9MmCxvqfHJiB0u8TmTI6-3lxnfYGl4EgPcIYseWyW4AjpHl1GHUiF1C5C6LKIY7EX9dfcHLKfE3dh5-FkpDosGHMsSwzE/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In under an hour I sampled, made friends, and </span><span style="background-color: white;">traded</span> 5 jars of spicy pickled carrots and 2 jars of pickled beets for 2 mango chutney muffins, 4 homemade oreo cookies, 2 jars of preserves - pear vanilla bean and kiwi strawberry, 2 slices of ginger olive oil bread, 6 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DudeBar">Dude Bars</a> and 1 jar of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/dining/giardiniera-crunchy-pickled-vegetables-satisfy-in-the-cold.html">giardiniera</a>. Not bad.<br />
<br />
E took home a great haul too trading her thyme simple syrup for a similar range of treats. She got a big jar of corn salsa I was eyeing, lucky girl. Afterwards we ran into the 3 girls that organize the event heading next door for tequila snow cones. I like how this crown rolls.<br />
<br />
On another "new things" related note, I've been stumbling through my practice of the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Divine Hours</span> trying to weave them into my life. Yesterday I had vespers (5-8pm) with a friend walking along the esplanade.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because you are my help,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I sing in the shadow of your wings. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I cling to you; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> your right hand upholds me.*</span></div>
<br />
We practiced visualizing God's right hand holding everything...<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">my vocation, </span><br />
each one of my friends I visualized their face and mentally put them in God's hand,<br />
anyone I don't get along with,<br />
cares for the future,<br />
my family,<br />
the success in my job,<br />
the work of life - bills, laundry and such,<br />
anything that I care about went into God's hand.<br />
<br />
His hands are big enough for it all. I won't lie. Yesterday I was in a funk, I won't even go into it, but I was. It happened in the blink of an eye. One second I trust God with all these things and the next I take the reigns and get completely anxious. It helped to remember that just as easily I can give the reigns back to Him and enter into His peace.<br />
<br />
blessings,<br />
t<br />
<br />
*Psalm 63:7-8 (NIV)<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-4481180377343214582012-07-14T02:30:00.000-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.879-07:00Standard House Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This doesn't count as something new, although it should. I generally don't buy dressings because I prefer to make them. But this dressing is new. Brand new. I wanted to share because it turned out surprisingly well. Mostly I want to keep it in mind for myself, but honestly, I don't think I'll ever forget it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk72gSuPEzq0BlaqMVfUWV-AunKsEtQvRTOH9VUKHFCg5rlgM8YL_Zj4U4yjvh98BYYFErjQmMCjrSFSPSJOe8qtZHULjVZ03l3up5LMILDMPyOhUukb6825Q-fYydtjcyk4Emx390Srw/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk72gSuPEzq0BlaqMVfUWV-AunKsEtQvRTOH9VUKHFCg5rlgM8YL_Zj4U4yjvh98BYYFErjQmMCjrSFSPSJOe8qtZHULjVZ03l3up5LMILDMPyOhUukb6825Q-fYydtjcyk4Emx390Srw/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tara's Standard House Salad</span>}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 small head of bib lettuce</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 leaf of kale</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 avacado</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cucumber </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 zucchini or summer squash</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dressing:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tbsp olive oil</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tbsp greek yogurt or any plain yogurt, I also like goats milk yogurt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 tsp salt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 tsp turmeric</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 small clove of garlic</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In medium bowl chop all the vegetables in cubes. Cut the greens in 1/2 inch thick slices right off the head. <span style="background-color: white;">In a small bowl whisk the dressing ingredients together. The whisk</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> helps the oil and yogurt come together. You could use a fork. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I used my garlic press, but you could mince the garlic very finely if you don't have a press. The turmeric has a kick so you won't need pepper. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adjust spices to your taste. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Toss dressing with greens & serve. Serves 1.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>I topped mine with 3 cheese tortellini for lunch. If I ever open a restaurant this will be my standard green house salad.<br /><br />Enjoy,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">t</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-5744788392708684692012-07-13T07:35:00.000-07:002012-07-29T07:01:08.120-07:00Domestic Goddess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I was in the throws of pickling the carrots (hands covered in garlic, jalapeños and vinegar, lovely) my friends showed up for a meeting I was hosting for the Boston <a href="http://manyhopes.org/">Many Hopes</a> leadership team. I thought I would be done with the carrots by the time they got here. Think again. One woman remarked as I was sweating and covered in garlic, "you are such a domestic goddess". Hilarious. Right J. So goddess-esque right now.<br />
<br />
The Pickled Beets recipe I found on <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pickled-Beets-104407">Epicurious</a> only filled 2 jars. Undefeated, I took J's encouragement and I decided to make up my own beet pickling recipe. None of the ones I found online seemed to be what I wanted and I knew my grandmothers recipe would have me waiting for 6 months if I did it properly. I took on my new domestic goddess distinction and made a NEW <span style="color: #6aa84f;">beet recipe.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Pickling Spice costs a fortune at the grocery store for a tiny jar. Ridiculous. When I looked at the jar I realized that I had most of the ingredients, so I just made my own. <span style="color: #93c47d;">Making my own spices</span>. Another new thing. On. A. Roll.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X776nyU6j-a-lV97iQkM6oqbZ6vxjYFZq_Ig4GYVc6mjOT87TnA8AG10ZjK6PayHyV3lok7d-qQvgbj148C3oRv5FUC5lamjjz2uAGLd1H-Ra18lVgsArR38gefMCzwSpEU7FwgqVhA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X776nyU6j-a-lV97iQkM6oqbZ6vxjYFZq_Ig4GYVc6mjOT87TnA8AG10ZjK6PayHyV3lok7d-qQvgbj148C3oRv5FUC5lamjjz2uAGLd1H-Ra18lVgsArR38gefMCzwSpEU7FwgqVhA/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcAlEBjWDBRY9SVf6_95LI7rxDwm391VqRwHhmdOZxLraG4Ar8fxHR2ZHsTSD69zwsE-caWKnrNkADB7mlI4QLov35pyMgnubNIE1lPh7zO45HePZgMcegOhM66VmaEGRYhoiPKwTzmI/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcAlEBjWDBRY9SVf6_95LI7rxDwm391VqRwHhmdOZxLraG4Ar8fxHR2ZHsTSD69zwsE-caWKnrNkADB7mlI4QLov35pyMgnubNIE1lPh7zO45HePZgMcegOhM66VmaEGRYhoiPKwTzmI/s200/photo+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tara's Pickled Beets & Eggs</span>}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup apple cider vinegar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup water</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 cup sugar (I used turbinado, which made them more sweet, but just because I was out of regular Trader Joe's Organic Sugar)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp pickling spice (recipe below)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 tsp pickling salt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 bay leaves</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1lbs fresh beets with caps cut off both ends</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 fresh eggs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 sprig of fresh dill for each jar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/8 tsp whole peppercorns </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Boil vinegar, water, sugar, spice, salt and bay leaves until sugar is disolved and let cool. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prepare the beets by boiling for about an hour and then letting them cool. I let mine sit on the counter during my meeting for about 2 hours and then they were cool enough to handle. Slip off the skins. They should just slide off if you boiled your beets long enough. Your hands could get stained, so where gloves if you like.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />While you are slipping off the beet skins, put 4 eggs in a small pot completely covered in salty water and bring to a boil for 3-4 minutes. Then let sit in the water another 10 minutes or so. You want to make sure the eggs are hard boiled. No soft yolks. Run the eggs under cool water and remove shells.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />Divide beets and eggs into 2 jars with a sprig of fresh dill and a pinch of peppercorns. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once the brine is cool pour over the beets and eggs. Seal up your jars and put them in the fridge for at least 2 days. The longer the better. Eat within a month. Delicious sliced on top of a salad with quinoa and feta or just plain with salt and pepper.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgIchXzKkOxGoRUICO3B-jFNFUIg2RsoqkHB_6O53YfIVE5sOThds2EuPY0YsmU-Au4Bqga28C5Ylvox1FeYSiE_sR-HttmQfORGPmF-8MBDStWD_cqgiIqAj3P_sYMf4F2dhx_WtikI/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgIchXzKkOxGoRUICO3B-jFNFUIg2RsoqkHB_6O53YfIVE5sOThds2EuPY0YsmU-Au4Bqga28C5Ylvox1FeYSiE_sR-HttmQfORGPmF-8MBDStWD_cqgiIqAj3P_sYMf4F2dhx_WtikI/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Epicurious</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> on left. Tara's Beets on right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tara's Pickling Spice</span>}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tbsp black mustard seeds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tbsp ground cinnamon</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tbsp ground cloves</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tsp cumin seeds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tsp whole cloves</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp ground ginger</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp dried red pepper flakes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 bay leaf, crumbled or cut into small pieces</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cinnamon stick (2 inches)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mix it all together in a little jar and use as needed. Shake before using to make sure spices are well distributed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />I'm calling these recipes "Tara's" this or that only because I am offering to take all the credit if it is horrible. I just made these up, so I'll let you know in a few days what happens. </span><br />
<br />
bon apetite,<br />
t</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-67635453792441350932012-07-12T21:26:00.001-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.921-07:00I Never<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">As my small group can attest, many of the thoughts I share begin with, "So I was listening to </span><a href="http://www.wgbh.org/index.cfm" style="background-color: white;">WGBH</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white;">..." fill in the blank. Today is no different. Diane Ream's show this morning was on </span><a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-07-12/ending-violence-against-women-worldwide" style="background-color: white;">violence against women</a> spurred from the<span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/08/afghan-woman-accused-adultery-shot-dead">22-year-old woman shot</a> in the back before an audience of men in Afghanistan last week. As most things are in our day, it was recorded with a camera phone which is why this particular incident (female executions are not uncommon around the world, especially in the Middle East) is getting a lot of attention. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While Diane's guests talked about violence ending when women are empowered <span style="background-color: white;">economically and otherwise</span><span style="background-color: white;"> and how ideas about </span><span style="background-color: white;">masculinity</span><span style="background-color: white;"> need to be transformed to honor women, it made me so eager to do something. There are a lot of things to care about in the world, but this is the issue that lights a flame in me. I wish every woman could have a part of my freedom, respect and honor. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
I've never been raped.</div>
<div>
I've never been illiterate.</div>
<div>
I've never had to quit school because my education wasn't valued.</div>
<div>
I've never been married as a child bride.</div>
<div>
I've never been forced into an arranged marriage with my rapist.</div>
<div>
<div>
I've never been forced into an arranged marriage at all for that matter.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I recently met a Middle Eastern girl who immigrated to the US with her family<span style="background-color: white;">. She was not able to enroll in school like her younger sister, she must have just missed the cut off at 18-years-old. Her parents arranged for her to marry someone of the same nationality living in another part of the US and now she must go 1700 miles away from her family to be with her husband. Her English is sub-par and she is moving to the south. That is on a "new" on a scale I will never get close to. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's been fun to do all these new things (today I <span style="color: #6aa84f;">pickled</span>), but this season of my life is about a transition to helping others have a new experience of value, respect, dignity, empowerment. That is the new thing I am most excited about right now. So while all these new things are great, the new thing I want most is to be a tool that helps <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Isaiah+61.1-3/">set the captives free</a>.<br />
<br />
I started <span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Divine Hours</span> today. It was only a partial fail. I started strong at 7am, but the hours are 4 services of prayer throughout the day. I only got to the first one. Oops. There is always tomorrow. If you have never heard of The Divine Hours (like me until a month ago) here is a brief introduction:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Asking me why I keep the offices is like asking me why I go to church. One, granted, is a place of bricks and mortar, but the other is a chapel of the heart, as powerful a place, albeit one of the spirit. The Offices open to me four times a day and call me to remember who owns time and why it is, as a part of creation. All that means really is that four times a day the watchmaker and I have conversation about the clock and my place as a nano-second in it. All The Divine Hours does is fill the ancient and fixed order of that conversation with the vocabulary and rhythms that are natively and unpretentiously ours as 21st Century Christians. There is nothing new here except a newness of accessibility and a new ease of glory in </span><span style="background-color: white;">the doing of it."</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;"><br />― </span><span style="color: #666600; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;"><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/divinehours/">Phyills Tickle</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{ <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Spicy Pickled Carrots</span> }</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>5 pounds of full-sized carrots, peeled and cut</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>4 jalapenos peppers, with seeds, halved lengthwise down the middle</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>14 whole cloves</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>2-1/3 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>7 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed slightly</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>5 cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>2 cups apple cider vinegar</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>1-2/3 cups granulated sugar</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>5 Tbsp. pickling salt</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Directions are </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/03/26/recipe-spicy-pickled-carrots/" style="line-height: 18px;"><span id="goog_1015635047"></span>here<span id="goog_1015635048"></span></a><span style="line-height: 18px;"> and they are really long, so I'll just tell you what privileges I took with the recipe and let you click the link if you are so inclined. I actually followed the recipe for the most part. I did add fresh red onions cut into long slabs. I think that the Boston Food Swappers will appreciate that. I also minced the garlic instead of crushing just because I didn't read very closely. So I hope that minced doesn't turn out so garlicky that I ruin relationships. I actually have a tiny little date after the Boston Food Swap (not a blind one, so keep thinking about that!) so maybe I should pass on my own creation. </span></span></div>
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The last office of the day is set before sleeping, so with that I will retire for the evening and practice the last divine hour.<br />
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Here's to a new ease of glory for us all,</div>
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t</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-34490815223227564882012-07-09T21:23:00.000-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.858-07:00Vegplosion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white;">Thanks R. for giving me your</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.sienafarms.com/">CSA</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">this week. </span><span style="background-color: white;">For the few people who may read this, you are in for a treat. Vegetables</span> have exploded out of this unassuming little box to cover my kitchen counters. That means I'll most likely be making amazing deliciousness all week and posting it here because, hey I'm a blogger this month. <span style="background-color: white;">Get ready for green smoothies. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisHauEYf4p_7hxd-SvneXqsRrvJZPIrlRQ16u-gtqEnrp8xJO3MeQ9KAm5QLj_Qf_vHWSBoLzxV8wZdnfU2nhPAAj8oJuLeRQvYKmzrqhKrGq1feYonGSHjgbkyoAvtpgY-uzYVGgmz4/s1600/beet+veg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisHauEYf4p_7hxd-SvneXqsRrvJZPIrlRQ16u-gtqEnrp8xJO3MeQ9KAm5QLj_Qf_vHWSBoLzxV8wZdnfU2nhPAAj8oJuLeRQvYKmzrqhKrGq1feYonGSHjgbkyoAvtpgY-uzYVGgmz4/s320/beet+veg.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
Bright orange carrots, crisp little cukes, lots of yet to be identified leafy greens and my absolute favorite of the bunch. Beets. Oh how I love beets. I love beets fried. I love beets roasted. I love beets on salad. Most of all I love beets pickled. Jars of pickled beets lined my grandmothers cellar, were on the table at every Easter dinner, and are in many dangerous stained finger memories from my childhood.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magic is going to happen and the beets are the object of my affection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">To make this box of veg joy even better, I discovered that the </span><a href="http://www.bostonfoodswap.com/" style="background-color: white;">Boston Food Swap</a><span style="background-color: white;"> July meeting is this Saturday. I will be pickling and brining and cutting and jarring all week because doing a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">food swap</span><span style="background-color: white;"> is on my list.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.bostonfoodswap.com/"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBOpWrNABOuuWziKnF5yqWZFivTYVW4-mbsmX_hJxko_4vlf1CeboGX40xPK4nlLcaXc4f2pOPVUe3GTgaPFoy3LAJvixfG3jYybYQjJvlLGu9L8PqYdDP3vrWoAaIvITNw0waz-lcUo/s320/boston+food+swap.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm fairly certain that a miracle of science will occur in my kitchen. I will keep you posted.<br />
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First things first: fava beans. Recipe courtesy of my fave cooking gal pal, Heidi Swanson of <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/">101 Cookbooks</a>. My roommate M. and I enjoyed these little treats last night and I won't lie, I was pleasantly surprised. They will be making many more appearances in my kitchen. So without further ado, I give you grilled fava beans. <br />
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<a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/grilled-fava-beans-recipe.html"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuijqYfwGPd7CXUdlv9-ZJNgmP8OvRF08QMF7BV-BlHG_plU1Xtor-9oSHAUF_QBDVRb8czQqoJbu8SVdDHK1gyErY0gvrhS6C63ZjyIaAZFyOdKnmy5-gDpIognC47kcJfm8DM6qHXw/s200/grilled+fava+beans.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{ <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Grilled Fava Beans</span> }</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">fresh fava beans, still in their pods</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a couple glugs of olive oil</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a few pinches of kosher salt</span></i><br />
<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">optional: crushed red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and or chopped fresh herbs.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><br />Toss oil, salt and beans together. Add your herbs or pepper flakes if you wish. Grill in a single layer on an outdoor grill or on a grill pan. You can also pan fry like I did, just use a little more oil and watch the heat so you don't burn the pods before you steam the beans inside. Heidi says 4-5 mins per side and that worked for me. You are trying to steam the beans inside. You'll start to see little burn bubbles toasting on the pods when you are ready to flip. I eat them like giant edamame pealing the bean from the pod with my teeth and getting lots of salt on the way. You can also pop the beans out and take off the little shell inside which is a bit more lady like.</span></span></span></div>
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bon apetite,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
t</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-84910913992117745022012-07-09T06:10:00.002-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.934-07:00I don't need you, cute dress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxG6GHrEjQHfnWPuJSCGxPhUYYVtflryf0pTIo06TcyB5qhW-O50ijVbfnBMWqZh0hyphenhyphen8bvcugWurYGYPjMgebpjk05PsoxfueI2kAy16FI_zlLSPxDkg0poxGg9FLOJAWxFC2gI3t8A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-09+at+8.22.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxG6GHrEjQHfnWPuJSCGxPhUYYVtflryf0pTIo06TcyB5qhW-O50ijVbfnBMWqZh0hyphenhyphen8bvcugWurYGYPjMgebpjk05PsoxfueI2kAy16FI_zlLSPxDkg0poxGg9FLOJAWxFC2gI3t8A/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-07-09+at+8.22.04+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is NOT news: I have a LOT of clothes.<br />
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So for July I decided a new* thing would be to buy <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>no new clothes</b></span> at all for a month. For you who are minimalists, you probably won't understand the self control this takes. It's natural for you. For me, it's a bit of effort.<br />
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When I'm traveling, I barely buy anything since you have to carry it all with you, but in the city I buy clothes as a hobby, not as a need. I buy bags and dresses and pants and t-shirts and belts, take them home to have private fashion show. Then I return everything I don't fall helplessly in love with. Sometimes I return it all. I buy things and wear them constantly. Sometimes I buy an item that I won't wear for years and then suddenly I live in it every single day.<br />
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Shopping in a tiny way feeds my creativity. But it can be a lazy, false creativity. I want the real thing. Hence <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>no new clothes</b> </span>month.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;">“For years now I've kind of operated under an informal shopping cycle. A bit like a farmer's crop rotation system. Except, instead of wheat, maize, barley, and fallow, mine pretty much goes clothes, makeup, shoes, and clothes (I don't bother with fallow). Shopping is actually very similar to farming a field. You can't keep buying the same thing, you have to have a bit of variety. Otherwise you get bored and stop enjoying yourself.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;">― </span><a href="http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/shopaholicseries/"><span style="color: #666600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;">Sophie Kinsella</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.166666030883789px; line-height: 17.5px;"><span style="color: #666600;">Confessions of a Shopaholic</span></i></a></span></div>
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Yesterday strolling around town with my girlfriend R. and her sister and I found myself on day 8 in Macy's sifting through unmentionables and kitchen appliances. I'm not addicted to shopping. I don't get hand tremors if I go a week without new shoes. But I was consciously thinking the entire time "I don't need you cute dress...sparkley necklace...on sale blender...espresso maker..." I made it out sans shopping bags.<br />
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Heading to the train after church I ended up in an amazing conversation with another friend M. standing outside the station. The sun completely set as we discussed the <a href="http://www.parkstreet.org/sermon_audio">sermon</a> about what we need. The text was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A19-26&version=NIV">Galatians 5:19-26</a> and what we need is fruit. Our pastor led us through this exercise:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
{Listening Prayer}</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.</i> (</span><span style="background-color: white;">Galatians 5:22-23)</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Read passage & ask: Which fruit is most evident in my life?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Silent listening. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Prayer: Thank you God for this gift of your Spirit.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Read passage again & ask</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Which fruit do I most desire in my life?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Silent listening. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Prayer: Thank you God for speaking to me. Show me someone who exhibits the fruit I desire. Is there a person I can talk to about how they cultivate this fruit in their life?</span></li>
</ol>
The exercise is simple. Almost too simple. The depths of what God reveals in the simple silences and stillness when we listen are richer than anythings else we can desire. So I'm left pondering what I really want and it's definitely not a dress.<br />
<br />
love,<br />
t<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>*I am just going to go ahead and be the judge of what I consider new and stretch the limits a little where I want. </i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14787073381871721085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573469088386912923.post-76084687734346424902012-07-07T16:28:00.000-07:002012-07-17T07:08:01.931-07:0031 Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I was telling stories from this book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Does-Discover-Secretly-Incredible/dp/1400203759">Love Does</a> at Supper Club a few weeks ago -- they are amazing stories, if you like stories that are awesome, read it -- and MK said her and her brother read the book and another one called<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Miles-Thousand-Years-Learned/dp/1400202981/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341701893&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Million+Miles+in+a+Thousand+Years"> A Million Miles in a Thousand Years</a> and were starting a project because they were so inspired. They called it "<a href="http://thirtyplusthings.blogspot.com/">31 Things</a>" and everyday for the month of July they are doing something new. Not just for the sake of newness, but to make the story of their life a little closer to what they dream it will be. Honestly, I don't know MK's bro, but I know MK and she is awesome inspiring as it is. So I listened and have been processing this plan of hers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, July 4, I sat down with my friend L. and wrote my list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hard. I already do new stuff all the time. This needed to be different. Stretching. Strengthening.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lobster racing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Just four days into July I had already done a bunch of new things - went to <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Nantucket</span>, <span style="color: #6aa84f;">played sloshball</span>, <span style="color: #6aa84f;">picked strawberries</span>, <span style="color: #6aa84f;">steamed AND raced lobsters</span> and I'm sure some others. I do new things all the time. I am the person who starts a month of new things with an arsenal of new things I had just done so that I don't have to even think about doing new things for 4 whole days. Even so, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to do 31 new things this month and my list is intentionally crafted like a pie. Here me out....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I started a new job in June (see I told you, new things all. the. time.) and I'm working from home (new). The job is not hard or busy (new). For a hopelessly extroverted person, this was let's just say difficult. Two weeks in I needed an intervention. I spoke with my <a href="http://www.imagodeifund.org/mysticism.html">spiritual director</a> and she told me about the Benedictine monks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She explained that the Benedictine's look at life like a pie with slices. My slices could be work, play, prayer and study. (They may have more slices than that.) When one retracts the others expand, all the time seeking balance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In pie world, more of one = less of another. Now that work is a little less I have more play, prayer and study space. I am still whole, the pieces just shifted. I always thought of life as more of a bar chart with bars that could be built up indefinitely high, full of life work and abundance. For me it felt tectonic to see life in a pie and have my slices shift. But now, I love pie life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">So my 31 things are balanced in my pie to make life full, not fast. This in itself is a new thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll tell you one of the things on my list because I'm going to need some help. One of them is to go on a <span style="color: #6aa84f;">blind date</span>. Please start stewing on that one. I can't do it on my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">cheers,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">t</span></div>
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