Fleeting Moments

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I find it hard to believe that the month of April has now found itself halfway to gone. It is only mid April and it is already mid April at the same time. I encounter this time warp thing again and again, yet it still manages to astound me. While it seems to me that spring has only just made its arrival, those moments of seasonal bliss are already beginning to fade. It is a busy time in this life cycle of mine. Spring Break has come and gone, the kiddos are back to school in full-force, eager to finish up the school year and get to movin’ on. With so many To-Do’s to tend to, it is certainly not a time for blogging. It is not the time for photo-taking or fancy food-making or collecting of beautiful moments. I should be in work mode, yet I find myself feeling a little cooped up, distracted and needing a little pause to enjoy these beautiful fleeting moments.

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Reprieve

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Spring is by far my favorite season in this little corner of the world. It is a fleeting, magical time as the desert literally explodes with life and color. But it is also the busiest time in my yearly work cycle and I find myself constantly pulled in two directions. It’s a dilemma. While I long to be outdoors witnessing as this seemingly lifeless landscape begins a new cycle of rebirth, I need to be indoors preparing to send yet another crew of wee ones out into that Big Kid world. Thank goodness for Spring Break.

Hiking Kearsarge Trail

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Spring Cleaning

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Last Sunday morning I was so rudely awakened by the sound of my phone alarm. I stumbled out of bed and into the kitchen in a state of confusion, wondering why it was still so dark. It’s not a work day, after all, so what’s with the sounding alarm before the hour of dawn? I had forgotten about that “spring forward” thing, but my very smart phone did not. Sleep is a pretty precious commodity and I do hate to lose even an hour of it. However, this little shift in time does bring back those daylight hours for evening walks with clouds and sunsets that I long for during the winter months. This subtle time shift also triggers a seasonal transition in the kitchen, as the root vegetables begin to dwindle and the early spring greens begin to make an appearance in the weekly produce box. Having not been much in the mood for hearty winter cooking this year, I have been looking forward to this particular change. So, I have been doing a little spring cleaning in the kitchen lately, trying to find creative ways to use up the last of Winter’s roots and greens and make way for the lighter, brighter spirit of Spring. And though my project started out slightly uninspired, I somehow managed to clear a path to an unexpected adventure.

Winter Root Vegetables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Snow Day

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Well, after spending the winter months wondering if Winter would actually be making an appearance at all, Mother Nature decided to celebrate the first day of March with a nice little snowfall. My hubby and I headed into the hills for a fun hiking day and a little snow play this last weekend. Now, with the second day of March being the birthday of beloved children’s author, Theodor Seuss Geisel, I could not help but stash in my pack a silly Seuss hat, hoping to capture a photo or two to illustrate some of my favorite quotes in celebration of the occasion.

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so…get on your way!”

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Lighten Up

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We’ve been having some beautiful spring-like weather here in the desert, with unusually warm temperatures, an abundance of sunshine, blooming trees and busy bees all over the place. Mama Nature has decided to skip right over winter and head straight on into spring, it seems. The desert floor is a lush carpet of green and wildflowers and I am feeling the pull outdoors. I want to be out and about, climbing rocks, hunting flowers, chasing rainbows…I want to go play! Needless to say, I have not been enjoying the confines of my kitchen these days and I am certainly not in the mood for warming winter meals. I have to remind myself that it is still February, hence the over-abundance of hearty winter roots and greens. And since I choose to eat from the earth and cook with the seasons, and technically, it is still winter, I am stuck with this surplus of hearty seasonal bounty. Though Nature’s confusion has thrown me for a loop, I think it’s time to get creative, lighten things up and seek a little color in my dreary winter food palate.

Creamy Root Veggie Stew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Walk a Little

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I sent my favorite explorer out adventuring all by his lonesome this weekend so I could try to get some chores done at home. It’s been one of those busy times lately. You know, the need-to’s and the should-do’s piling up, work projects and deadlines making themselves the priority and playtime taking a back seat to it all. You’d think I would long to explore a bit more and seek a little solace in the great outdoors, and it’s true I do. But sometimes a girl just needs a day at home, alone, to get her chores done. When life gets all hectic and harrowed, my head and my home become cluttered with chaos to the point where I begin to feel desperate for even just the tiniest bit of clear space. Whenever I get to that point, I always hear this song playing in my head.

I think it’s time to put myself away,
seek out a little silence,
close the doors and sit awhile 
and walk a little…
Desert Sunrise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Adventure Awaits

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My friends often say to me, with that subtle look of envy: Oh, you do live an adventurous life! I wish I…sigh… Well, I suppose it’s true, I do. But truth be told, I am not what you would call an adventurous girl. I hate rough roads, I am afraid of heights and sometimes I’m scared of the dark. I am timid, shy and I often cry when stuck in uncomfortable situations. But for me, the secret for living an adventurous life lies in the exploration, the delightful discoveries and the excitement of the unexpected. The possibilities for adventure are endless and not always difficult to pursue. Sometimes it is a simple walk in the woods, a leisurely drive or a quiet evening stroll. Whether it is a well-traveled highway or an unexplored byway, choose the road that calls to you…adventure awaits.

Road to Death Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Fresh Start

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Now that we are a few days into this new year, the celebrations have ceased, the festivities have fizzled and you are struggling to get back into the swing of things. You are totally out of routine, having loosened your grip on healthy habits for the sake of “special occasions”. Too much pork roast and roasted chicken, buttered and smothered side dishes, sweets, treats and other such indulgences have left you feeling slow and sluggish, unmotivated, uninspired and well…just plain blah. It’s time to get back on track. So, let’s clean out the cupboards, prepare the pantry and get ourselves a fresh start.

Fresh Start Salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Celebrations

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Well, here we go again. A new year, another cycle of seasons, one more revolution around the sun. And as we embark on yet another journey around that beautiful, life-giving star of ours, it is customary to look back, to ponder what was and wonder what will come. I, myself, have never really been a goal-oriented person. This socially accepted tradition of creating and pursuing a set list of goals for the coming year has always been a fruitless endeavor for me. I much prefer to use the term intentions rather than resolutions.

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Spread the Love

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Well, I don’t know how it happened, but Time has managed to completely slip through my grasp once again. He is a slippery little fellow, always running away from me, teasing and taunting like that silly little gingerbread man…Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me…hehehe! And I don’t know about you, but here it is, a matter of days until the festive Christmas gifting begins and I am totally unprepared. Nothing brings me joy like sharing my love through handmade trinkets and heartfelt gifts. I am not, however, one for planning ahead. I find myself with a growing list of loved ones and loyal friends who are deserving some kind of acknowledgment of their special place in my life. So, I throw my thinker into high gear, get those creative cogs turning and rummage up some thoughtful last minute gifts and meaningful ways to spread the love.

Spread the Love Gift

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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