and I think to myself, what a wonderful world…
I have been drinking a bit of turmeric tea lately. I make it a few different ways depending on my mood. One is called weight loss tea from The Earth Diet: 2-inch piece of ginger- diced, a dash of cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder & 1 lemon. In a saucepan bring 4 cups of water and all of the ingredients except the lemon to a boil and let simmer for 5 minutes. Then squeeze in the lemon juice and sir. Pour into your favorite mug and head to a cozy nook to savor with your thoughts, or a good book. The one above is 1 C hemp milk (or any milk you like) 1/2 tsp of turmeric, ( I have been buying the turmeric root and grating ) 1 dash of cayenne, 1 tsp coconut butter, (this activates the properties of the turmeric) a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, a little knob of ginger grated, and a little maple syrup to taste. This one is more comforting and kind of filling. The perfect mood altering comfort one needs during this cold spring! It feels very cozy to sit with a mug of something warm and to purposely create a bit of hygee for yourself when it is dark and chilly. Turmeric is a cure all for all types of health issues, and once you get a taste for it it is very soothing and pleasant.
Create your own sunshine.
We did escape a little winter for a visit with our daughter Julia in California. She has been there for a year and 3 months now. Here she is at work at the Madison Gallery in La Jolla.
We love San Diego, I must say. I can see myself living there except for one thing… the highways. I really don’t like them one bit, but I really like everything else! Lucky for me, I have a driver!
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ~ Emily Bronte
He takes me anywhere I want to go! We go for beautiful hikes, a daily trip to a farmers markets, exploring, shopping, and restaurants.
One chilly day we went to the Botanical Garden. Succulents really have won me over in a big way. I even have started a little collection of them in my own house. I read that plants are back in a big way now in home decor. I was a very limited inside plant person, but I must say the trend makes me very happy ~ especially the succulents.
I think that people in San Diego are mostly very healthy because of the amazing climate. Surrounded by flowers all year – such a moderate temperature, and honestly a farmers market every single day in one of the neighborhoods. It just makes your heart sing to pick out your fresh produce each and every day! – oh and the restaurants! The very best restaurants for my style of eating, in every neighborhood in the city. The best eating city and state we have ever been to!!
Leaving is hard. Even though we talk daily, it is the nuances of her sweetness, and her precious sense humor that are really best in person! I love seeing her adulting, I adore her personal style and her wit!
“The Little House was very happy as she sat on the hill and watched the countryside around her. She watched the sun rise in the morning and watched the sun set in the evening. Day followed day, each one a little different form the one before… but the Little House stayed just the same.” ~ Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House
Home at last to our almost Spring climate! I felt inspired ! Time to bring new life into my Berkshire Home! This succulent was my first purchase!
And the one thing that we didn’t expect was….
another snow storm. So we had to pull out all of our hygee stops! We had to savor the beauty and snuggle up! Cook good food and step into that zen place of winter! More fires, candlelight in the daytime, fresh flowers, and outdoor winter exercise!
We had to sunbath with snow still on the ground! (My dad with Max & Margot!)
Although our days are longer, it isn’t very spring like around here! The snow is gone, but today is dark and rainy. This was the perfect day to eat lunch – at The Starving Artist Cafe. It is a very hyggeligt thing to do! The food is always amazing and healthy, and the atmosphere is casual and welcoming. Today we each had a delicious black bean soup and a crepe.
“The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from the dominance of outward conditions.” ~ Robert Lewis Stevenson
I spent the last month trying to re-create California food! We ate at so many wonderful vegan restaurants! Always packed, and filled with fun hipsters! Healthy hipsters! We ate at the Cafe Gratitude – five times! I had the same thing each time! Pad Thai with kelp noodles. I came home and went to town. I didn’t quite get their flavor, but I still loved it!
Life is a combination of magic and pasta. ~ Federico Fellini
Spiralized butternut squash pasta.
Zoodles!
Garbanzo Beans: 1 can rinsed garbanzo beans with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme ~ add to a hot pan and roast on top of the stove. Our new favorite!
My husband is also a rice man! He could eat it every day. We usually have leftover rice in the fridge. I have started to make a really good fried rice with whatever we have for leftovers.
And lastly, a Spring Soup! Artichoke and Lemon Soup! You can view the recipe over on my facebook page. It felt fresh and clean!
Thank you for coming by my blog today. I am in the process of spring cleaning (with home made cleaning products) and maybe another inside project if this weather doesn’t turn into spring soon! . I love the idea of Spring Hygee! My first thing to do this weekend is to plant the pansies and get on with it – regardless of the weather!
“More than anything, savoring is about gratitude. We often remind each other not to take things for granted. Gratitude is more than a simple “thank you” when you receive a gift. It is about keeping in mind that you live right now, allowing yourself to focus on the moment and appreciate the life you lead, to focus on all that you do have, not what you don’t. Clichés? Totally. ~Meik Wiking