Challenging Times

Oh, my…how to begin…with feelings.  Sadness for all the homes and lives lost in the Los Angeles fires. Gratitude to all the firefighters and first responders of all kinds who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Concern about the effects of a battery plant fire north of us at Moss Landing. Uncertainty about our country as it navigates from one administration to another.  

As we watch all that is happening near and far in the world right now, how do we move forward with a sense of optimism?  

We each probably have our own lists of “go to’s” for keeping ourselves as strong, centered, and positive as possible. Some of mine include my morning ritual of coffee making and journal writing, inspirational reading and making art, nature walks and bird watching and listening, facing the sun and absorbing its positive energy and giving thanks for life, love and home. 

And then there’s food.  Ah, yes, food.  Last week, I made a dish I enjoyed having with my mom during our shopping escapades in downtown San Francisco.  We’d go to the counter at Townsend’s Restaurant (no longer there) for lunch and have their Creamed Spinach, garnished with hard-boiled egg slices.  I loved it then; I love it now.  Eating it brought back all of those fun warm times with my mother so many decades ago.  Comfort food to be sure.

Comfort foods can center us and give us nourishment, physically and emotionally, especially during challenging times. I feel lucky to have my little comfort food recipes all ready to go should the need arise.  I hope you have yours, too.💚

Tidbits Along the Way

Some January Endeavors:

🍎 Trying to make healthy beverage choices, especially after hearing the Surgeon General’s announcement about the cancer-causing possibilities of alcoholic beverages, and getting hints about which foods to choose by reading various sources, one being “The Well Challenge: Five Days to Happier, Healthier Eating” in the New York Times.

🖋️  Playing with lettering and calligraphy forms.

🎨 Taking a 30 day, 10-minute-a-day on-line “Drawing Together” class with Wendy MacNaughton, an artist who has illustrated many books, including the cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat.  Wendy’s daily class is challenging, educational, and fun, as was her pandemic on-line class for children, which John and I took! 

On My Bookshelf

📕Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.  So far, I’m learning a lot of science, or at least reading about it (!)

📙Come Alive! The Spirited Art of Sister Corita by Julie Ault.  I am relearning about Corita Kent’s life and seeing many of her serigraphs.  She was an inspiration to me in the 60’s and her works of words, images, and color still light up my spirit.

💚 “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come.”

                                                                                                                        —Chinese Proverb