A GOOD LIFE

A good life is when
you assume nothing,
do more, need less,
smile often, dream big,
laugh a lot, and realize
how blessed you are.

The weather has been amazing
here, so much so that on my
morning walks I have needed
to wear long sleeves, and while
I know it won't last I am loving
it!

A good friend came for a visit
and brought over the prettiest
pot of mums that I tried to
photograph, but  Flat Kevin kept
photo bombing my pictures.

Because of the cooler temperatures
I spent a lot of time this week in
the kitchen puttering around.
Cheesy grits, leftover oatmeal-
chocolate chip muffins[ well, these
were for Alex, I don't eat chocolate
chips, I just don't like the taste],chai tea,
vegetable fried rice. Heavier dishes
than I normally eat, but my body
seems to be craving them and I try to
listen to what my body needs,
when I do I feel better.

The pears are ripe and I am happy
to say the squirrels left me quite
a few. I have plans to put a few
jars away for a cold winter's day.

I pulled out the never ending blanket
and maybe this year will be the year
I finally cast off.

I was able to spend some time with three
of my guys which doesn't happen often
since they all work so much. They
always bring a smile to my face and
make laugh, just wish the rest of my
family could have been here too.

I talked with my daughter, and Emerson
on the phone. They are loving Germany
and are very happy so that makes my
mama [Olie] heart happy.

I don't have any plans for the weekend,
I will just have to wait to see what
the world brings.

Enjoy your days my friends!

Much love,
Tracey
XO

NOURISHING

Nutrition is not low fat.
It's not low calorie. It's
not being hungry and
feeling deprived. It's
nourishing your body
with real, whole foods
so you are consistently
satisfied and energized
to live life to the fullest.
After all, isn't that what
this life is all about?

~ Skinnyms.com

I am a foodie, although when I
was younger I didn't know that
was the correct term, I just knew
I loved cooking and reading
cookbooks just for fun.

I love to cook foods from all
over the world, mostly foods
with a 'kick' as I don't have much
of a sweet tooth, [except for cheese
cake, which I never turn down].
Most recipes I never follow to a
tee, I add, subtract, and change
to suit what I have on hand.
While I am a vegetarian, my family
is not, so each day I cook a wide
range of foods. 

This past winter I kind of lost my
groove in the kitchen and fell into
a rut, just cooking the basics in order
not to starve, but nothing that I was
thrilled to prepare.

With the change in the season, the
gardens starting to produce and
inspiration from Heather's class,
I have my spark back and have spent
every day this week playing in the
kitchen with my food.

I wondered if any of you need a spark
to reignite, or perhaps ignite, your food
love? I would like to host a recipe
swap next Friday and share with you
one of my favorite recipes and you
could do the same on your blog, leaving
a comment so we can all visit and
expand our menus, what do you
think?

Today I will share a dish I prepare for
my son who does have a sweet tooth....

Banana Chocolate Almond dairy free 'ice cream'

2 frozen bananas
1/4-1/2 cup coconut milk [canned]
1/8 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Place all ingredients in a blender and
blend until smooth. Top with crushed
raw almonds.  Easy

MY WEEKEND

Hanging with old friends and
saying, 'remember when'?

~ Kush and Wizdom

[Photo Credit: Waitress at restaurant]

[Photo Credit: Waitress at restaurant ]

The weekend has been filled with
playing with my camera and learning
all I can about  aperture.  I still have
a life time of learning photography
in front of me, there is so much I
need to learn, but it's fun so I don't
mind at all.

Eating lots of salads and smoothie bowls,
I add strawberries, almond milk, dates,
coconut oil, soaked raw cashews and
protein powder, then I top with goji
berries, raw pumpkin seeds, and chia
seeds. I can't wait for the blueberries
to ripen so I can try a smoothie bowl
with them. It is the perfect dish on
a warm day.

The best part of my weekend so far?
I met with a group of women, some
I haven't seen since high school. We
had the most enjoyable lunch, talking,
laughing, reminiscing, and just enjoying
being together.  Beautiful women who
I am glad are in this world and now
back in my life.

Today it's raining, I have a sock to knit,
a movie to watch and a book to read.
Oh, and maybe a nap to take. Enjoy
the rest of your weekend.

Joining Karen

USING MY TIME

"I would rather be ashes than dust.
I would rather that my sparkle burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be
stifled by dry-rot . I would rather be
a superb meteor, every atom of me
in magnificent glow, than a sleepy
and permanent planet. The function
of [wo]man is to live, not to exist. I
shall not waste my days trying to
prolong them. I shall use my time.

~ Jack London

 

This week....

 

It has felt like summer here

with temperatures in the mid

to high 80's, but I am holding

off turning on the a/c because,

well, it's only April.

 

The tree pollen is extremely high

so I have been using my neti pot

faithfully and am drinking cups

of green tea with local honey and

lemon. There have been a few

sleepless nights, a lot of coughing,

and a lost voice, but things

are turning around and I am feeling

much better.

 

Last week I watched an alligator turtle,

the first I've seen in awhile and then

I spied another this week. I do love

their little faces, but I know not to

touch them, they are a wee bit mean.

 

I've made quinoa patties twice this

week, along with peanut thai sauce

served over buckwheat noodles. 
My favorite this week was peppermint patties,

although I took the lazy route and just

added a dollop of dark chocolate to

each square.

 

There was  a long distance call from a dear

friend making me wish we lived a lot closer

than we do. I started my photography lessons,

and am having a lot of fun, even with having

to do homework.  I am dreaming of traveling

this January on a fun trip to pet the whales

because I just have an overwhelming urge

to do so, doesn't it sound like fun?

 

What about you, did you have a good week?

 

Much love,

Tracey

XO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



HEART AND SOUL

"Some books you read.
Some books you enjoy.

But some books just
swallow you up
heart and soul. "

~ Joanne Harris

 

 

 

I am still waiting on snow,

but the polar clipper that

made it's way across the

country finally arrived so

at least it's been cold.

There is a fire in the woodstove,

I am able to wear some

of the woolies I have been

keeping stored in the cedar

chest, I have knitting by

my side and I'm happy.

 

I spent a little time darning

a sweater I picked up at

Goodwill. There were two

tiny hole and I had yarn that

was almost an exact match

to repair it.  I thought about

ripping down the sweater for

the wool, but darning worked

so well and I can add another

sweater to my stack.

 

I have been drinking green

juices and smoothies daily

and have noticed a great increase

in my energy level. I know when

I eat properly I feel better so I'm

not sure why I feel the need to

eat things I know will make me

feel lousy, sigh.  

 

Since the sick germs still seem to

be all around I have added a new

drink to my day,  turmeric milk

[ I used almond milk]. Have you

tried it?  I make a double batch

and keep it in the ice box to

warm as needed.

 

I started reading a book recommended

to me by a friend and was pleased

to find in my church library. Some

books just reach out and grab you,

they inspire you and make you want

to help make the world a little better,

this book is one of them.

 

I received a phone call this evening

letting me know of the need for

mittens for Koalas ......

http://www.ifaw.org/australia/news/koalas-sew-need-you-summer?ms=AONDG150120020&cid=701F0000000S6wg

and while I don't sew very well, I think

this is something I can do and thought

you might too.

 

Enjoy a great weekend.

Much love,

Tracey

XO

 

MEANINGFUL

A meaningful life is not being rich,
 being popular, being highly educated
 or being perfect. It is about being real,
being humble, being able to share
ourselves and touch the lives of
others. It is only then that we could
have a FULL, HAPPY and
CONTENTED LIFE.

— Unknown

Our Christmas was beautiful,
but afterwards came that blanket
of depression that always comes
so I took a little time off to soak
in the quiet and regroup.

The weather has been sun, cold,
warm, rainy, weather typical for
the coast of SC, but I have managed
to get out to explore every day. Now
if I could just get the snow I so dearly
covet.

I had a pleasant phone call from on
of the hospice nurse's who took care
of my Pappaw asking if I would knit
baby items for her niece. I've never
knit baby socks before, but now feel
quite the expert since I have since
received several more calls asking
for baby items.  It's amazing how
the universe works since this is the
year I will welcome another member
to the family. I was honored to
attend an ultrasound and see the
next grand before he/she even draws
a breathe. Life...it's amazing!

Collard greens and Hopin' John are
cooking and I have spent the day
redoing my home planning book,
the book I use to run my home for
the year. These activities are tradition,
tasks I always do on the first of January,
tasks that help me begin the year and
keep me focused. Do you have a
tradition you follow?

I am excited to cast on my first Christmas
gift of 2015 by joining Melissa and
many other wonderful knitter's in the
Jared Flood KAL. I have chosen to knit
Stonecrop, using yarn I have in my stash
since my LYS is closed for a few weeks.


2015......it's going to be fun.