No.14 (Carla's post)

It's almost summer and now it's hiding. Lifted my face to feel cold splashes today. Looping the headphones tonight is Modest Mouse - 'The Moon and Antarctica'. Weirdly wonderful, melodic, uplifting, darkly charming...altogether just right, right now.

Stream of consciousness...floating childhood memories
outstretched hand
can't catch, the meaning
unconscious tears
laughter
peripheral visions
bitter-sweet remembrance
dizzy joy
spinning sky
winded fall
weightless ocean
endless freedom

This life, may be all.

At a family lunch recently the multiple intertwined memories of love-filled food and ties that bind, bound me again.

So, the Morning Benders - 'Big Echo' is playing the nostalgia-for-now soundtrack. And although summer is shy we've been loving light healthy food! Quick stir-fry. Serves 4. 2 cups cooked brown rice. 2-3 courgettes/zucchini, washed, halved and sliced. 1 sweet red pepper, washed, halved, seeded and thinly sliced. 1 small punnet mushrooms, wiped and sliced. 1/2 cup fresh basil & 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves washed. 1 TBSP sunflower oil. 2 TBSPs Soy Sauce. Heat oil in a wok & stir fry veg on a med-high heat, about 5 mins. Add rice and stir through. Reduce heat. Using kitchen scissors cut basil and coriander into rice & veg mix. Stir through. Add soy sauce and stir through. Add whole coriander leaves when serving. Enjoy.

Lucky 13

Apologies for the unplanned hiatus....sometimes technology just doesn't play along. I tried to blog from my cellphone; just couldn't do it. I need a proper keyboard in front of me! 'Deer Tick - War Elephant' is soundtracking tonight....he's got one of those unmistakable voices and I love the images their lyrics conjure up. There is something dusty and world-weary yet optimistic about it.

Cynicism seems to be a respected form of wit, a show of intelligence, a mask of superiority. 'I have done and seen so much I'm bored'. Granted, cynical comments can be very funny, but I always get a little shiver of sadness. Children capture me with their wondrous innocence. We can't hang onto that indefinitely but we can unburden ourselves of the heaviness around us. Don't limit yourself to a life lived by opinions and judgements. Liberation lies in true freedom of thought. Try it.

Here is a super yummy healthy side dish. Baked sweet potato. 4 med sized sweet potatoes, scrubbed, skin on. 100g butter, softened. 2 cloves garlic, crushed. 1-2 med-hot chillies chopped. 1 TBSP fresh grated ginger. 1/2 cup fresh coriander, washed and chopped. Pre-heat oven to 190 degrees celsius. Prick sweet potatoes a few times and bake in oven until soft. About 45 mins - 1 hr. Mix rest of ingredients and refrigerate until sweet potatoes are cooked. Slice open sweet potatoes and fill with butter mix. Enjoy!