Author: -N-

Non Loqui Sed Facere*

January in California is an odd month, almost a season unto itself. Winter’s subtleties become a bit more apparent – a warm day with a tantalizing breeze – and then a cold, drear gloom with a dampness for which we are never prepared in our dry climate. Today is a perfect example – the morning had a hint of warmth, and now it is cloudy and cool. The birds are happily chirping away – no mockingbirds, yet – more so than normal – the spring hormones are beginning to flow!

Me, I get restless. I want to throw things away, wipe my hard drive, dump messages from five years ago by hitting the trashcan icon in my email.

I’ve begun the process of getting rid of stuff. And while getting rid of stuff, whether virtual or real, is what I am doing, it also means getting rid of unfinished things cluttering my life. Knitting projects. Writing projects. Reading projects. Photography projects. Gardening projects. Household projects. Essentially, the “to do” list haunting my life!

Obviously, I have to pick and choose. Some are really fun, like listening to a book and knitting. Others are more onerous, such as chucking out 90% of the garage. Some take planning and time, and patience to accomplish, and perhaps lay a foundation for future endeavors.

Whatever it is, when I take the time to slow down and contemplate all of it – irksome, delightful – I appreciate the fact of simply being here to do them. Not all is drudgery, and the moments when something has an essence of the connection with the universe, it becomes all that more valuable. Often I wonder what life is – how we define death – but in the end, it is always in the doing.

———————-

*not talk but action

V is for . . .

. . . Very!

As in busy.

Since the New Year, I have been caught up in doing things that I have not done for a while.  One is to sit down with a book to read.  Usually, I knit along to an audio book.  I’ve also pulled out a brush and ink and watercolors – but they are still staring at me on my desk.  I want time for those, but they sit there, friendly reminders.  I’ve also got some knitting projects to write up, and one that I am working on.  Getting a couple of new old lenses, manual focus, for a few bucks, have also taken up some time.  Josh and I have also started walking every night – or almost every night – when he is done with work, and that has been enjoyable.  We’ve gone a mile in about 12 minutes sometimes, so I’m rather impressed with us.  Walking is becoming a nice break between the workaday world and the evening.  At work, catching up on this and that.  Not bad at all!

Out with the Old!

Happy New Year!

Another year, one which we all hope will be more positive on the news front, the employment front, economic front, and whatever front needs improving.

And, of course, with the change of the year, come reflection and resolution.  And gratitude.

In the upcoming year, there are things which both need to be done, and want to be done.  On the “need” list is to get certain things under control, and under the “want” list are things I want to do!  Well, the “need” list can stay in the background, but the “want” list is more fun.  So, what do I want?

  • more outdoor activities
  • more peaceful times
  • more visits with friends and family
  • more creative time set aside for painting, photography, writing, knitting, designing
  • more creative cooking

Outdoors . . . 

What can I do here?  I can take a walk at lunch or after work.  I can go to the park or find a trail.  I can make an effort to keep on the move – at least for part of the evening.  And on weekends.  I can get the other half involved as well (ha!) – if I’m lucky!

Peace . . .

Quiet time, time to meditate, time to focus on slowing down, no matter what the craziness of the day.

Family & Friends . . .

So easy to take for granted . . . and resent, too, for obligations that some put upon us.  Not quite sure what I want to do here, but I think some things can be improved.  Maybe an attitude change?

Creativity . . .

All too often, I get so worn out with work that I forget the need to be creative.  It is too easy to stare at the internet or plop down in front of the TV.  I need to set aside time to do the things I really love – and often ignore because I am too tired.  I wonder, though, if I just do and not think about how tired I am – mentally, physically, spiritually – if there will be a healing quality in the activity.

Cooking . . .

Creative cooking to make more healthful meals -more vegetables and fruit and less fat.  Simple cooking to make it do-able.

Whatever . . . 

Talk is cheap.  Let’s see what happens.

 

 

Sandwich Rolls

I am not a fan of boughten bread, especially rolls that pass as “bread.”  More specifically “buns” – that ubiquitous, cottony fluff that seems to haunt the American hamburger.  Specialty bakeries can produce very good products, but they are not that easy to find for a reasonable cost.  Of course, cost is always relative – is it worth my time?  If yes, the cost is worth it.  But if my time is not available, boughten might be acceptable.

This past week I have not been interested in sitting inside.  Rather, the weather and light have been pulling me outdoors.  The air is bright and wintery (as wintery as it gets where I live!), clouds, new green on branches, willow buds and toadstools.  The squirrels are quite plump – “in someone’s corn” – and busy eating everything.  I’ve also been inclined to knitting and reading and fidgeting and cooking and, today, baking some rolls for tonight’s dinner.  In a week, all this will be set aside as I return to work.

So, the recipe, and the rolls.

Sandwich Rolls
1 pkg. dry yeast
1 c. hot water
1 tsp sugar
pinch sea salt
2-4 T. olive oil (I glopped it in)
3-4 c. King Arthur unbleached white flour
cornmeal

Mix together hot water (not boiling) with yeast, sugar, oil, and a cup of the flour. Stir to make a slurry. Beat awhile to mix it smooth.

Begin adding the remainder of the flour, about a cup at a time. At about 3 cups total, add it in 1/4 c. increments.

When batter is a bit stiff, turn out onto floured board and knead about 10 minutes, working in flour. Keep dough a bit soft.

When done kneading, form into ball, and then place in oiled bowl. Turn bread dough around in bowl to make sure all surfaces are covered with oil. Cover with damp cloth and set aside to rise in warm area for an hour, or until double in volume. Punch down dough, turn out onto lightly floured board, and knead for about a minute. Return to bowl to rise another hour.

Remove from bowl, cut into 6 slices, and then shape into balls and flatten. Roll in cornmeal, and place on 11×16 cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with damp towel and let rest for 15 minutes. Warm the oven to 375 F, with rack in center of oven.

Remove cloth from top of rolls, brush with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes; cool on wire rack. If rolls are not brown enough to your liking, broil lightly to brown tops.

Sandwich Anyone?

We have leftover pork tenderloin which we roasted after marinating it in olive oil, rosemary, garlic and pepper.  This will be thinly sliced and made into sandwiches with caramelized onion, mustard (optional), tomato and something green and leafy, like cilantro or arugula.  We also have some aioli, which might also be a good addition to a sandwich.

Now, out for the evening walk, to enjoy the sky filled with pink clouds!