Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Blah...

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Hello, hello, my lovelies!

How was your weekend? How was the 4th of July for all of you, my American friends?

It was/is HOT in here. For the past few days it's been in triple digits and I'm dying... And there is no relief in the forecast.  Seriously, the most "cool down" we will get is 93F on Thursday. And no rain anywhere in proximity... I really miss me some ocean breeze right now...

I've been so useless in the past few days, it's not even funny... Just vegetating on the couch working most of the time (don't count the Christmas jam spree. It was spur of the moment craziness...) And cooking... I hate cooking! Luckily, my FIL took us out yesterday and we got plenty of leftovers for today too. But we might stick to salads and watermelon from now on...

Somebody actually told me today that I'm probably feeling hot for three(yeah, not that hot, darn!). Didn't know the thing like this existed but hey, it makes total sense... After all, I am working on our "six pack" here...:) Blah... Honestly, if we didn't think of moving in a few years, central air would be our next big purchase... Swamp coolers just don't cut it in this heat. Nor do half a dozen other fans that are eating electricity in our house right now...

OK, I'm gonna soak myself with a garden hose, I think...

How's the weather on your side of the world?

Sunday, March 30, 2014

In the lane, snow is glistening...

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Now imagine me singing this phrase with a deep voice of... I don't know, Bing Crosby? I sure love me some festivity of this song, just not at the beginning of April. But that's what came to my mind at this depressing view today:

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OK, it's a pretty view. Just again, not at the beginning of April. I'm kind of done roasting my chestnuts for the season... I guess I jinxed us by sharing with you all the pictures of my tulips... Come on, you can stop gloating now :) I've learned my lesson... I'm trying really hard to convince myself that it's moisture we need for the grass, and gardens, and rivers or lakes... It almost works...

But on a day like this I just did not have any energy to be useful... In fact, I was pretty lazy (it doesn't help when you eat something that doesn't agree with your stomach the day before...). I spent most of today away from the computer but enjoying time at Church, sleeping and curled up on the couch with my soft blanket and some uplifting books instead.

What can I say, I'm really looking forward to spring... When it's nice and sunny outside, I'm so much more productive! I feel like the energy is just flowing in my body and I'm ready to conquer the world (of dirty laundry, that is...).

The only thing that helped me feel that spring is near was the gorgeous bouquet that I scored for just $5:

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So worth it!!

What do you like to do when you need a day for yourself to relax and rejuvenate?

Sunday, February 23, 2014

What really, truly inspires you...

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Today I was on a self-imposed mission... to find signs of spring. We had such a beautiful day today with temperatures in low sixties, so I just couldn't stay inside. So I put on my spring-y shoes:

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And went on a mission.. I slowed down and observed the birds that are coming back and starting their spring courtship games (not in this picture. I guess, every creature deserves their privacy, right :)

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The sun shining brightly on top of the trees:

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Or something I could never imagine to see in February:

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And even crazier - the first strawberry leaves...insane!!

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Today I wanted to slow down and notice the beauty around me. Why? Well, this afternoon I met an amazing, inspiring woman. She and her husband came to pick up our old futon from the "dreadful room". While the men were working, we talked. And talked, and talked... Have you ever had an instant connection with somebody? This was mine. Two years ago she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She's been traveling to a different state for treatment every three weeks for many months. And she told me how grateful she is for every single day that she has with her loved ones. This couple had a little boy with them. Watching him play happily and rambunctiously with my two guys made my heart ache...

Sometimes we are so immersed into struggles of every day life that we forget what life is really all about... Day after day passes by, and we are too busy to slow down.  And than life just stops in it's tracks... Tomorrow I'll think of the budgets and money, and jobs, and stuff. Today it's about what matters most, and what I'm truly and eternally thankful for:

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And how was your day today?

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

When weather calls for something warm and comforting...

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This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland:

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At least six inches of snow and the end is yet to be seen...This day was really asking for something warm and comforting. But after all of the leftovers from multiple Thanksgiving parties, I just needed a light meal (yes, I'm scared to step on the scales after this weekend... said while munching on the last piece of chocolate cream pie. Oh, what can I say?...;)

I never got to create my usual weekly menu yesterday. I guess, I'm just too tired to care (after sleeping for 3 days on the floor or in the recliner, even our old mattress sounds really good right now!) What an easy thing to cook when you are too tired and when there is crazy snowfall outside? Soup!! Something light and warm.

After going through my fridge, I decided on cabbage and bean soup:

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Many moons ago, when I was working as a social worker helping the elderly, I visited the sweetest, cutest Grandma in the world. She was 85 at a time, a widow with no children, suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition. But she was loved by multiple nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends. She was such an amazing person, and I built a close relationship with her. Her house was always pristine and she was an amazing cook! One day she invited me to share lunch with her (it doesn't violate work policy in my country). She made this simple and delicious soup. I remembered it today and decided to share it with you:

Cabbage and bean soup.

You will need:

  • About 2 cups of cabbage
  • 1 carrot
  • 1/4 onion
  • 2 potatoes
  • 1 small clove of garlic, minced
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • 2 TB unsalted butter
  • 1/2-2/3 cup of white beans, precooked or canned
  • 1/4 tsp dry parsley
  • 1/4 tsp. dry marjoram
  • salt and pepper to taste
How-to:

In a big pot add stock and two cups of water. Cut cabbage into strips:

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 Peel and cube potatoes. Add cabbage, potatoes and then spices to the pot, bring to boil. Cook on medium until potatoes are soft.

In the meantime, grate carrots and chop onions. Melt butter in a frying pan (and don't replace it with oil. it's just not gonna taste right!) and saute garlic first, for about a minute, until fragrant. Then add carrots and onions and cook on med-low until soft, stirring often.

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When potatoes are cooked and soft, add the sauteed veggies to the top and your precooked beans and cook for another 5 miutes or so. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Some people add half a teaspoon of sour cream to this soup for extra creaminess but it's a bit too tangy to my taste, and I personally think, it has plenty of flavor on it's own.

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I shared this post with these awesome parties:

The Real Housewives of Riverton    The Shabby Nest    Under the Table and Dreaming
Sumo's Sweet Stuff     Frugal Foodie Mama   This Gal Cooks    Carole's Chatter   Uncommon Designs 


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