I have to admit, I’ll always choose animals/mammals over humans any day. Sounds a bit harsh? Perhaps. But I feel as if I have a deep, and soothing connection with all things nature, and for that very reason, I want to share this spectacular creation. Which I replay on my laptop, the moment I feel overwhelmed or stressed with work. Enjoy Featured image source and full credit here
I’ve been doing much virtual traveling lately. Whether by binge watching a television series, or a movie filmed on location or travel shows. I have to say I truly miss travelling. So while watching Emily in Paris – season 2, I couldn’t help but wonder, if I were to take a trip right now, would I spend the entire time in Paris or forgo one of the most romantic cities in the world and instead travel throughout France. To revisit the wonderful places (listed below) I have been. In the following order, via French Rail. Strasbourg, Colmar, Dijon, Lyon, French Rivera, Marsielle-Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, Nimes, Montpellier, Biarritz, Bordeaux region, Nantes, Rennes, Rouen-Normandy, Orleans, Paris-one night Colmar French Rivera Bordeaux Marsielle French Rivera Nantes- Mont St Michel Monaco Paris – always the last stop on my journey How about you?
Trying my best to think of today as NOT just another day.
As I listen to close friends and family members vent to me about various aspects of their lives: stress, anxiety and struggles with depression, I wonder how I can relay to them lessons I have learned over the years from my own life experiences, without offending or hurting their feelings. So for the time being I simply listen, and in between I insert some tidbits… Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself. After all you are the doing best that you can under all circumstances. Strengthen Your Core (Body and mind) : Avoid fad diets and opt for healthy eating instead. Exercise in the simplest fashion possible-walk any way possible, or dance in the middle of your living room to your favorite tunes. Take care of your mental health-whether simply hiding in a corner of the house, with the lights off, meditating to calming music. Or watching a stand-up comedy on television, or simply dabbling in a craft or hobby. Strengthening your core should be the least stressful thing you do. Find Your Life Rhythm: May …
Our (U.S.) first three day weekend of the year, and we woke up to Tsunami warnings along the Pacific Coast. Apparently, a ripple affect from the Volcanic eruption in the South Pacific here. Although we did not get the full impact on this side of the coast-California, much different was reported from the other side, as well as Chili in South America. I stared at my views of the Pacific ocean much of Saturday thinking about how one body of water, connecting two continents, can impact the other side in so many different ways-be it a scientific, or natural force. Apparently this eruption was a ‘once-in-a-millennium‘ event, just in case you are as intrigued as I am. And yet, I wonder how one would have any time to prepare for such a thing? I couldn’t shake off the feeling on Sunday while moping around the house. So by nightfall, I decided a Monday day-trip was necessary to help unwind and/or stop the obsession over natural disasters. So we settled on Sonoma, mostly for the picturesque …
I had the best soup on Sunday. Ordered to-go from a restaurant that specializes in steak and seafood, which I wasn’t craving. So I ordered soup. It wasn’t potato leek as the title suggests. But more potato and cheese, topped with scallion shavings. I savored every spoonful and actually kicked myself for not ordering a second to-go serving. Anyway, in my household, homemade soup has been a hit or a miss. Because I have the worst food critic – my mother – to please while experimenting with a variety of ingredients. 🙂 She cracks me up, because when I serve her dinner at the kitchen table, she takes a minute to prepare her taste buds for what she is about to eat. Then she takes a bite, and from the expression spreading across her face, I can tell if the dish is a success or a complete flop. Long story, short. I have been craving Potato Leek Soup ever since Sunday. So I went out and bought fresh baked artisan bread and ingredients from the …
Normally, the first order of business for a new year, is plotting the travel I intend to do over the year and the projects around the house I want to complete in between. But this year, I have decided not to make plans, but rather to simply go with the flow. I am testing a new approach to healing, emotionally and physically, after the many conversations I’ve had over the year with friends and acquaintances. About the added stress we tend to put on ourselves with plans and the inability to achieve them. So the new plan for the new year is – to simply not have a plan…and as every day unfolds, jot down – the good (first), the ugly (second), and the bad, last. And let’s see where we end up in six months and then the year, in terms of our mental health… If you are interested in sharing contents from your daily journal, for lessons learned or otherwise, please complete the below survey. Excerpts will be shared daily
As stated here, I did do so much cooking and baking over the holiday break. And I have to say, I enjoyed every bit of it. Perhaps I found my new joy… I also had time to scope out recipes online, and found it interesting about the creator of the recipe, adding a twist to worldly ingredients, such as this recipe, experimenting with Tahini. A cultural staple in Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cooking. But the recipe called for Tahini mixed with oatmeal, almond flour and chocolate chips. Never in a million years would the combination have crossed my mind. But I suppose we would need to try it and see how well it all pans out. Here’s a recipe I actually tried and loved, combining Korean and Mexican cooking. Also since Taco’s are my favorite. Indonesian style pasta is this recipe…why not? Let me know if you have a recipe to share, where an international ingredient was used in the most creative or unusual of recipes
On this Winter’s day, all I want to do is share…
We’ve had the strangest of weather patterns in San Francisco recently with weeks of torrential downpour and wind, followed by a day of sun, and more freezing temps – all wreaking havoc on my garden. So I nervously keep a watchful eye in between the rain and the storms – mostly wondering if my hillside garden comprised of sandy soil is going to survive the wicked and seasonally delightful temperatures. I also know that for every freak-out session, there are countless online resources available to put our minds at ease. Or perhaps simply lay down the fact that some zone-friendly plants may just not make it past the unforeseen brutal weather in Sunny California. For those of you who are planners and took up gardening like I did in 2021, here’s a beginners guide to keep you on track 10 Things To Do In Your Garden In February
rawsilkandsaffron.com 