Y4 – Day 24 – Distraction

Who needs television when you have bird feeders hanging from a tree, right outside the window, in your line of sight? This is paradise. Life unfolds and blossoms.

It is better for me to write in my teensy, treehouse office because I am not distracted, day-dreaming, scheming new projects or goofing off. I work when I am in my little room the size of a cubicle. Writing becomes comforting and natural. It develops and grows organically, at a reasonable pace.

Affirm: I allow all transitions and transactions to be gradual and I easily digest and incorporate them. This or something better.

Y4 – Day 20 – Credenza Move

Just in passing I mentioned to the love of my life that I thought the new credenza that took foreeevvveeerrr to arrive – never buy from Beyond Stores – would actually look better up here and lo and behold, he brought it up yesterday and carried it right in to the perfect spot where I had imagined it.

It looks so at home here. It matches perfectly! It enhances the hall between the living room and kitchen and is practical for miscellaneous items.

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Y4 – Day 18 – Hi Altitude Veggie Soup

It is relatively cold up here in Arrowhead so yesterday I cooked up a soup that is both delicious, easy and nutritious. It was made completely from leftover organic produce I brought up.

I heated a smallish amount of coconut oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. First, I added some medium sliced red onion, and later, I added some chopped up red onion. In total, about half a medium large one. I covered the pot and diced up two carrots, thinly chopped one stalk of celery and added it after stirring up the onions which at this point had become translucent and soft. After that, I covered it and chopped up a peeled large zucchini. I added the squash and one minced garlic clove and stirred, covering the pot. I brought up half a jar of organic, Italian chunky tomato sauce and added that and around one cup of water, stirred and covered. I de-stemmed one large kale leaf and ripped it up into the veggie mix. I brought the soup to boil, stirred, covered, simmered and waited for five minutes. At this point and time, I added organic veggie Better than Bouillon paste I had left in the fridge up here and stirred, tasted, covered and simmered. I chatted with a friend, puttered around and made myself a salad. By this time, the soup was ready.

It took the birds (especially the stunning red capped woodpeckers) just about 24 hours to realize I had put out some wild bird seed in the feeder. And it took me, less than an hour, to create a delicious, nutritious and super easy melody of layered flavors. It tastes much better than my amateur food picture and… I was in a rush to eat. 🙂

This is vegan, gluten free and worth it. Today, I will add cubed, sautéed tofu to my leftovers for a protein punch.

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Y4 – Day 17 – Lemons

This morning I picked around two dozen dwarf Meyer lemons, sweeter than the Eureka or Lisbon lemons you find in the supermarket. Meyers don’t travel well because they are thin skinned so you will only find them in farmer markets during the winter season here in So.Cal.

We are very lucky to have planted two trees when we landscaped seventeen years ago or so. They must love their location because I kind of neglect them, rarely feeding them nutrients or warding off any diseases or insects. And yet, they give and give when they give fruit.

I am finally up here at the treehouse in Arrowhead after about four months of missing my pine trees dearly. I knew I wanted to do a fair amount of cooking, so I picked the citrus this morning down the hill and this afternoon, up at the cabin, washed them and placed them in a basket at room temperature (they are juicier when warm). I will probably wring a few out tonight and tomorrow.

Lemons are the kind of fruit that work with savory or sweet. Imagine fresh squeezed lemonade over ice on a heat soaked day or lemon pie. They are just as useful as a finish for most soups, rice dishes and of course in salads. In fact, that gives me an idea, I think I will make myself a salad right now with olives, and an avocado/lemon/olive oil/sea salt sauce. I made a veggie soup as soon as I unpacked, so my tummy calls. And maybe, I will concoct a bowl of coconut yogurt with vanilla, lemon and stevia. YUM!

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Y4 – Day 12 – Storm Watch

Back east, they are bracing for a fierce snowstorm.

This is what Long Island looked like a week ago.

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May everyone hunker down and get ready because like it or not, here comes Jonas. Get your popcorn, movies and soda pop. These blizzards were great times during my childhood because it meant no school and lots of playtime making snow forts, snow men, snow angels and snow balls with the neighborhood kids. Later, when I was older, I shoveled the snow to clean the driveway and loved coming back into the house for a cup of hot chocolate after as my reward.

The temperature seems to warm up a bit from a freezing bitterness as the silver grey clouds wait to burst.The snow falls in silence.  The wind howls as it encircles the trees and seems to pound at your door. The white powder falls at an endless pace as you press your breath against the window. You wonder when it will stop and leave steam and a stencil of your face on the glass. You bundle up as it slows down and step out the door unless it is jammed with a drift.  You look like the first man on the moon while your boots sink lower and lower crunching into the fresh fallen snow.

I love a good snowstorm as long as you are safely home and prepared. They are lucky it will hit on a weekend.

Y3 – Day 289 – Fog

IMG_4542This is what it looked like yesterday up at the treehouse. One of the most harrowing rides down the hill. Fog truly limits your visibility and makes you slow way down.

Misperceptions, judgments and fears also hamper our vision and inhibits our growth. Like a low mist that clouds our discernment, “brain” fog restricts our sight.

Y3 – Day 280 – Lake Merritt Part 2

Lake Merritt in Oakland is beautiful. It has enough running/walking/strolling paths all around for a few miles (I forget how many but like 3 I think). Lights are lit up all around at dusk till dawn.DSC09622

Also, you can rent a gondola and have a wonderfully romantic afternoon with a picnic basket or chocolates.DSC09624

Geese are protected and are rather bossy as geese usually get but even more so because they are so revered and everyone has to bow before them.

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