Time is flying, while I take small steps

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When days fly by and I feel like I am barely keeping up, I especially appreciate the wisdom of keeping a practice like this food journal going. It has become routine, something stable and reliable that I have committed to. On weeks when I can hardly track how I got from there to here, I have this visual accounting of the process of feeding myself to remind me of the basics. As I put together these collages from almost a week of eating, I am invited to reconnect with the momentary awareness that occurred as I took each photo and the daily awareness of putting together the collage. I have instituted a structure on which to hang my self-awareness, and I am grateful to that when my awareness feels like it could easily wander off. Right now, as I struggle with a relapse of the cold I thought I had finished with, pulling together a post with 6 days of food feels comfortable, a pattern I have established that I can relax into. The serious cognitive work of reading and responding to student posts and papers is next on the agenda, and something about finishing up this process of posting feels like a good foundation. I can feel more ready to think about other things when I have taken care of this small ritual.

When people ask why I am doing this, I usually refer to the accountability of presenting what I eat so publicly. But I know that the ritual of self-reflection that I have established in doing this is very stabilizing and reassuring, in the midst of many commitments that might leave me feeling fragmented. So to those of you seeing this, thank you for being witness to my process and providing such an anchor in my day-to-day life.

 

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Rebalancing

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I’ve been eating too much – time to really tune in to how much my body needs! Got out for a walk through the woods today, felt good to be outside getting some exercise again. I know those two things are connected for me – the more consistent my exercise, the more tuned in I am to what’s good for my body. I will make an effort this weekend while I’m off at the ATP/ITP conference (Spirituality & Psychology: Promises & Pitfalls) to make sure I still get exercise daily!

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Reconnecting in Seattle

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We’re here for just a few days to do some further packing up at our old condo (anyone interested in buying a wonderful condo in Kirkland with a view of the Olympics?), and reconnected with the folks we met almost monthly for dinner when we lived here. Had a lovely dinner at May Thai in Wallingford – I had passed their building many times but had never eaten there. It did not seem like 9 months had gone by since we’d all met and eaten together. Lots of hugs all around, and we look forward to next time, whenever that might be!

Meanwhile, I will be creating meals from what I have on my pantry and refrigerator shelves here, along with some fresh vegetables, dairy, and fruit that we picked up last night. Always an adventure to see what can be put together out of what’s on hand!

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$20 at the farmer’s market

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I had only a twenty dollar bill and some change, and we are heading up to Seattle in a few days anyway, so I knew I didn’t need much and could restrain myself at the Santa Cruz Wednesday downtown Farmer’s Market. This is what I came home with, all organic, $20.75. Onions, romanesco broccoli (it looks and tastes like cauliflower), fuji appleas, and celery from Pinnacle Farm, salad mix sprouts from New Natives, and cara cara oranges and tangerines from – well, I’m not certain who these come from – Lone Oak Ranch, perhaps? They have pomelos and blood oranges, too, but I was at the end of my cash by that time.

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Finding rest when my body insists

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I am fighting a cold, and wishing I had a few days of nothing to do. I am imagining laying in bed and reading fiction – it’s been way too long since I’ve done that. Today had too much going on, so I struggled through what needed to be done, snuffling and foggy-brained. Tomorrow has work to do as well, but I am looking forward to a quiet day on Wednesday. Maybe not enough to read a novel, but enough to luxuriate in a day of rest.

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Gratitude for the sharing

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The Advanced Mind-Body Medicine Training is done, and I am once again feeling grateful for the many places I have in my life where people take the risk to share with each other in a deep way. As the participants of this training return home with new insights, I wish them well in bringing what they have learned back to their lives and the people they touch.

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Tea in my hotel room

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I don’t take photos of the tea I drink, but I do drink a lot of tea. I usually start the day with green tea, then have a yerba mate based tea later on, and sometimes something herbal. I bring plenty of tea bags when I travel, so I can have the kind I like. Here in the hotel, I make use of the coffee maker in the room to heat the water for tea in the morning before my movement practice, and at night as I’m winding down and putting together my food collage. It’s a simple ritual that helps provide a structure for quiet time with myself in the midst of a busy schedule.

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Everything changes when I travel!

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Somehow travel helps me reset my eating process to listen more closely to what I really want and need. I am more finely tuned when I am away from home. Since I’ve been eating a bit more than I’ve needed to in the past month or so, I’m finding that I’m eating less right now. Of course, the excitement and adrenaline of traveling and teaching may be a contributing factor! But I am feeling very connected with my body right now, trusting that how I am caring for it, with food and with morning movement and workout, are supporting all that I’m doing.

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Winter Squash Minestrone Soup

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As promised, a hearty winter soup. We enjoyed this as is the first night, then added veggie sausage after that, for more protein.

Winter Squash Minestrone Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
221 grams onion , chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
615 grams winter squash, peeled & cubed
179 grams carrots, chopped
116 grams parsnips, chopped
107 grams celery, chopped
453 grams potato, chopped
2 1/2 cups  vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups  water
138 grams kale, chopped
15 ounces can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

Heat oil in a large soup pot on medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 5 minutes. Add squash, carrots, parsnips, celery, potatoes, oregano, salt, pepper, broth, and water and cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are almost done. Add kale and beans and simmer another 8 minutes, until kale is tender and beans are hot.

Servings: 7
Yield: 3.5 quarts – 2 cup servings

Nutrition Facts
Calories 375.03, Total Fat 2.84g, Saturated Fat 0.47g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 178.31mg, Potassium 2168.78mg, Total Carbohydrates 73.71g, Fiber 14.77g, Sugar 5.92g, Protein 18.25g

Source: originally from Moosewood Daily Specials. I added parsnips and vegetable broth.

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Preparing for the Rain

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I was out and about the SF Bay Area yesterday, stopping for a meeting in Palo Alto, then picking up new business cards from Greenprinter in Berkeley and dropping in to visit friends before heading back. Then out again for a few more errands, getting what Rene’ needed for our washing machine repair adventure.

We’re trying to get everything done and ready for the predicted rain storm. Rene’ has been sweeping the driveway to clear the road of the rest of the debris downed in the last windstorm, over a month ago, and burning it. The washing machine is not the only repair going on right now – our main propane backup generator is down. We’ve been using the old, hand-pulled one for about an hour every other day to give us that bit of extra power to take us through on these still long nights, but in the rain, without sun on our solar panels, it will be every night. Not a great time for slow cooker recipes, but I will probably make some kind of hearty soup to sustain us through these cold, gray days. Recipe for that on the next post!

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