Y4 – Day 142 – Three Power Points

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

When I need to get clear and focused or maintain a vision or a goal, there are three things I know work.

Be the Master of my mind – Discipline
Ask my Goddess, Universe, Creative Intelligence for help, guidance and inspiration. – Pray
Have a continuous steadiness – Constant Consistency – Just do it.

Another tulip, different color, same day, same place as yesterday

Those whose consciousness is unified, abandon all attachment to the results of action and attain all peace. But those whose desires are fragmented, who are selfishly attached to the results of their work, are bound in everything. – Bhagavad Gita

Y4 – Day 141 – Instead

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

Instead of fearing what you have or afraid of not getting what you want, maybe feel blessed instead.

Instead of acting entitled, give gratitude and give of yourself.

Instead of whining, O Woe is Me, find meaning in your misery, missteps and mistakes.

I write what I need to remember.

Photo of my tulip at the mountains, April 22, 2016

I find that the source of my misery is not wanting things to be the way they are. Not wanting myself to be the way I am. Not wanting the world to be the way it is. Not wanting others to be the way they are. Whenever I am suffering, I find this war with reality to be at the heart of the problem. – Stephen Cope

Y4 – Day 140 – Dream Big

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

One of the best-kept secrets for long-term, sustainable creativity is consistent discipline and sustainable, predictable actions.-Sunni brown

Whatever your vision, appreciate the process.

I remember imagining over and over again what my dream cabin would look and feel like. I had a fire going, I had windows looking out over mountains and snow, I had a shaggy rug in front of the fire, I had low shelves of hundreds of books under the windows and the feeling was warm and toasty, sweet and cozy, soft and dreamy. It was both my romantic getaway and safely tucked away, writing haven.

I wrote about it for years, made a vision board or two using exactly the colors I have now in my treehouse in the woods and magically it all came together in an instant on the day it came up for sale and all the dominoes fell into place without any of my own doing. I knew instantly it was our treehouse. It looked a little different of course but not that far removed from my ideal sanctuary.

“Let this truth go in you as deep as possible: that life is already here, arrived. You are standing on the goal. Don’t ask about the path. – Osho

There are ups and downs during the process of manifestation and there are two things I know, if it is meant to be, it will be and secondly, it never looks like you thought it would or happens when you were hoping it would but it fits perfectly into your scheme of things and timing nonetheless, especially when you look back and connect the dots.

The whole course of engineering your heart’s desire into reality teaches you about staying on track and at the same time letting go. It’s about reflecting on obstacles yet pushing past it to re-evaluate your intention. It’s about perceiving your failures as benefits and still getting to where you want to go with detours and vistas you had no idea would appear yet are grateful for.

It’s about tapping into the wellsprings of your positive self image, becoming who you are and re-inventing yourself to be the best version of yourself time after time.

The journey takes courage, grit and heart.

Y4 – Day 139 – Relax

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

Picture taken in San Diego, May 20, 2016

For most people, the next three days will be about remembering fallen loved ones and anonymous souls dead before their time. Don’t get me started on how I feel about war, killing or the military institution. Obviously, as a vegan yogini I am not particularly a fan and never liked confrontation for that matter, since the day I was born. Call me a peacenik. I don’t care. Life is too short and scary enough without adding fatal conflict or crime to the mix.

On another note, it is also a three day weekend off and plenty of people take it as a sign summer is here. In the old days, not so long ago, this meant you could start wearing sandals and white or beige clothing. You were allowed to start bar-b-quing today too and all the men would sharpen their knives. In the commercial society we live in nowadays, it’s about Memorial Day sales and deals.

Some of us will relax, catch up on social media, garden, watch a movie, sports or binge on a Netflix series. Others will fix up their homes, repair broken items or clean their pools for the summer season. Many will shop, clean, cook, play computer games or engage in neighborhood block parties.

I am hoping and believe we will be keeping to ourselves, staying home and seeking serenity.

Relax, lay back and listen to the sound of silence.

” Reflective pauses enhance appreciation and sustain the flow of expression.”

– Shaun McNiff

Y4 – Day 138 – A New ChimiChuri

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

In my family, spicy, tangy ChimiChuri and sweet, sticky Dulce de Leche, have been standard accompaniments to savory and dessert dishes, respectively. In the last several years, exciting chefs have learned how to concoct this Argentine salsa type item, chimi churi and even Breyer’s brand has Dulce de Leche flavored ice cream these days.

Lots of experimenters have different takes on what ingredients to add or delete to a chimi churi which resembles an Italian green sauce or salsa verde . Most variations include Italian parsley, an acid and plenty of garlic. The recipe calls for mixing finely chopped greens in a bowl with garlic cloves mashed up in a mortar and pestle and allowing the flavors to meld at room temperature with vinegar, oil and spices. I decided to substitute water for the oil to save some calories and it didn’t take away from the flavors. You can keep Chimi Churi for quite a while in the fridge.

My husband brought home dandelion greens, I had some leftover spinach leaves and I cut some Italian parsley from my front yard stash. After washing the greens, I toasted coarsely cut up garlic in a very hot cast iron pan, added a few other ingredients to my food processor and then pulsed and blended it all together. Easy peasy as Jamie Oliver would say.

Here is my adaption from a recipe for dandelion greens pesto I found on line at boardsandknives.com.

Dandelion Chimi Churi.

Use atop salads, vegetables, soups or alone with baguettes.

INGREDIENTS – Use all organic

2 cups dandelion greens

1 cup spinach

½ cup parsley

¾ cup water

4 large garlic cloves

1 Tbsp. raw cashews

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS

Heat up a small cast iron skillet on high.
Chop garlic coarsely and large. Toast garlic in pan and toss till lightly browned.
Add all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse till smooth.
Transfer to a sterile glass jar and set it on the counter for one hour to marry the flavors.
Refrigerate up to one or two weeks but I doubt it will last that long.

Y4 – Day 137 – Anniversary Bouquet 2016

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

There is no way of explaining the delight and the fragrance this bouquet brings into our home. Pictures do not do it justice.

It is safe to say my husband likes to do things on a grand scale. He has a romantic side that is truly endearing and appreciated. Who wouldn’t want the attention and gestures? I am a lucky girl.

Y4 – Day 136 – Cookie Trouble

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Cecilia Steger

My husband of 27 years sent me the biggest bouquet of extraordinary flowers together in a vase so heavy I cannot budge it and the expert, colorful arrangement is breathtaking.

Unfortunately for MOI, he also came home with a Mrs. Fields white chocolate and macadamia nut gigantic cookie. And, even though it wasn’t vegan and I really need to stay away from sugar, I ate quite a bit, then, froze the rest. 🙁

I know, I know, it is both of ours’ anniversary, but I didn’t get it inscribed in icing.