Monday Work Haiku

Multitasking Work

To do list overwhelming

Press on for money

Sunday Morning

 

Morning knowledge gained

Anticipation and the

Book Review with espresso

Fall Evening

Fall evening descends

Twinkle lights glowing bright now

Another blessed moment

Yoga

I have been practicing yoga for over 5 years.  I am a self-taught yoga freak – learning all the poses I do from a dvd I bought years ago called “Yoga for Dummies” and then a few more from a Rodney Yee book.  Some yoga snobs would now tell you what I do is not “yoga” but merely stretching because I do not go to an official class and was not taught by an official teacher.  Oh well.  I am going to call it yoga.  And I call it yoga 7 days a week.

After so many years of practice I can honestly say I love the way it makes me feel.  My body feels  more “tight” when I skip a day.  It’s also a very calming 20 minutes before I start my day.  My practice is done in the virtual darkness of my bedroom everyday at 4:39 am.  It centers my day. I will say being self-taught is not for everyone.  You must really listen to your body and not injure yourself.  Yoga is not about getting the pose perfect – it’s about practicing the poses.  If something hurts – stop.

Yoga is great for flexibility, strength and stress relief. A great source of information on yoga is Yoga Journal

Turkey Wrap

Wrap flavor of your choice (I like a giant spinach wrap)

4 slices thin sliced deli style turkey breast

1-2 tbsp cream cheese of your choice (I used spinach artichoke flavor)

1 tbsp pesto

handful of lettuce

Spread your wrap with cream cheese then add the pesto and the rest of the ingredients. Roll up tight and cut in half.

Enjoy!

For The Love Of Fall

The leaves are starting to change.  The acorns dropping by the millions it seems.  Fall has arrived.  I am not sure if the calendar agrees but my eyes to not deceive me.  The browns and golds, the oranges and reds.  The slight chill in the air and the bounce in the step of man’s best friend signal the the changing of the seasons.  Afternoon strolls around the lake have replaced hiding in darkened air conditioned caves trying to survive.  Chirping birds and opened windows have replaced the constant hum of the air-conditioner.  The landscape is being repainted, prepared for winter. But until the coldness of the first snowfall we are blessed with the seasonal majesty of nature.

 

I Love Actual Books But Not Actual Newspapers

Just a few days ago I announced how I had abandoned the Kindle 2 in favor of the tactile experience of books.  Today I found myself not reading the tactile paper edition of the New York TImes (Sunday edition) but the online version.  In fact, at one point today I was also reading the Sunday edition on my iPhone on the NYTimes iPhone application.

I have always read newspapers.  The actual paper copies – I have moved all over the country and the first thing I do when I move is subscribe to the local paper.  Until May 2009.  We moved to our new apartment and a few days later received the subscription renewal notice for the Dallas Morning News. We did the math – to subscribe for a whole year it was over $400 dollars.  It didn’t help that the newspaper always came after I left for work – so If I read it at all it was a quick skim in the evening.  We made the decision to forgo subscribing to the newspaper.  It did take some adjustments mentally.  For weeks I would look for the paper only to remember I did not renew it.  Then I didn’t look for it anymore.

Like many people I get my news online. I check the news many times a day, usually just a glance at the headlines. At least once a day I do read an entire article – the weekends even more articles to read because I do have a bit more time. Would I pay for online content?  Yes.  Would I pay $400 for online content. No.

I know many are predicting the end of print media.  I do not fear the end of books – I have been to the Kindle 2 world and although it definitely had it’s benefits it lacked character and even romance.  I fear newsprint has always had less character and that will be their demise.  But after the initial shock will we really miss the tactile feel of newsprint?

Half Price Books – Where Books Go To Live Again

I love Half Price Books.  It’s one of my favorite book-type destinations. If you do not need the latest a greatest read but a read that was great once and still is – this place is for you. In 16 states scattered across the country you can find this wonderful store.  The concept is simple. You have books (or records or cds or dvds or even VCR tapes) that you do not want any more.  Load them up and take them to your Half Price Books – now unless you have some pretty rare books or books that will bring a pretty penny – you won’t get rich selling your books. But you will get more money to buy more books or just the money if you prefer. Sounds perfect to me.

Today, Husband and I made the trek to the big Half Price Books on NorthWest Hwy in Dallas.  It’s the big one – there are smaller ones scattered around the D/FW metroplex but this one is giant.  I really could spend hours there but it was college football Saturday so I had a time limit.

I love the old books with the yellowing pages.  I love the dusty, musty scent of the place laced with fresh brewed coffee.  I love the fact, if I wanted to, I could get a back massage right on the premises next to the coffee shop. Today being Halloween – most of the employees were also dressed up.

I love the old paperbacks and the clearance aisles where the inexpensive used books are even more inexpensive.  I love that sometimes you can take one off the shelf, crack it open and read some sentiment written by someone to someone maybe a really long time ago or maybe just a little time ago. Maybe a thought of good wishes in an old Bible in the Religions section.  Maybe just a note mentioning how good this book really is.  Sometimes you might even get an old bookmark – if your lucky.

Used bookstores of all names and shapes and sizes – they are places of magic and mystery. How did this book get here?  How did the owner decide this one just didn’t make the cut while packing to move? Did the owner need some extra cash to buy another book or even buy some bread? However they got there – they have a renewed life, a new chance to be read, a new chance to make a difference — a new chance to inspire and inform.

Pumpkin Raisin Bread

(Original recipe taken from Taste of Home Simple and Delicious magazine)

Ingredients:

3 cups of all purpose flour

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of ground cinnamon

1.5 tsp of pumpkin spice

3 eggs

2 cups of canned pumpkin

1 cup of canola oil

2/3 cup of sugar

2/3 cup of packed brown sugar

3 tsp of vanilla extract

1 cup of raisins

Method:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and spices.  In another bowl combine the eggs, pumpkin, oil, sugars and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.  Fold in raisins.

Pour into 2 greased 8×4 loaf pans (I used 9×5 – it’s what I had) Bake 350 degrees for 50-55 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool for 10 min before removing from pans to wire racks.

Send one loaf to a friend because she is amazing

Slice one loaf into individual servings and freeze.

 

How Do You Cook?

A simple question really – how do you cook?  Are you a recipe follower? Or a recipe creator? Or maybe even a recipe alterer?  Or maybe it goes in stages.

I started as a recipe follower. I knew better than to vary from a recipe.  There had been too many questionable results using my version of varying from a recipe.  Once I didn’t have enough ketchup to make my Dad’s bbq sauce that I needed for the country style ribs.  I varied from the recipe and used a can of diced tomatoes instead – they weren’t bad but they weren’t what I was expecting. Or the time when I was baking chocolate chip cookies from a recipe on the back of a certain yellow package – I figured if softened butter was good melted butter would be better. It wasn’t bad but I did have to make one giant cookie in a cake pan instead.  Actually for many years I preferred that method – made cookie making faster. So for years and still currently I am a recipe follower on most things.

Lately though I have been feeling brave in my little apartment kitchen.  At least in the baking arena.  I have been turning perfectly good regular white floured baked goods into my version of super healthy made with whole wheat pastry flour and no white sugar here versions.  Most have turned out just the way I wanted.  Some a little less sweet but a whole lot more healthy than when they began. So in a very tiny, teeny tiny way I am a recipe alterer.

Someday I hope to become a recipe creator.  Those that can take a handful or more of ingredients and come up with something amazing. For now I will take my tiny steps forward and hope my taste tester Husband holds up.

This weekend he will be tasting Blueberry Bread.