Sunday, January 17, 2016

Chili Cook-Off

Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.
~Last words of Kit Carson, 
American frontiersman (1809-1868)

Chili Cook-off at church on Sunday for the monthly fellowship meal. 
So . . . T and I are both making a pot of chili. 

I’m using a tried and true recipe. I found it at this link http://www.tasteloveandnourish.com/2013/04/15/black-bean-and-lentil-chili/ a couple of years ago and have made it several times. I don’t even adjust the heat much. We like it hot! 




Ingredients for my chili


My Chili

T did a web search for a new “exotic” recipe to try. He’s printed it off, and will decide later if it is worthy adding to the recipe binder. Of course, he’ll make several adjustments to the new recipe. 


Ingredients for T's chili
T's Chili


The best part of this “contest” is cooking with T. Just being together in the kitchen brings me such happiness! We talk and laugh. We listened to music on Pandora - Pink Martini, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole. The perfect background. 


We had dinner of a small(ish) bowl from both of the chili pots and fresh from the oven corn bread. Then, each was put into a crock pot to take to chuch on Sunday.

Just spending simple time together like this brings such joy. I can’t imagine a better life.




The fellowship meals are always enjoyable. This time we sat with two friends that always bring lots of laughter to share. There was quite a buffet of chili pots. The one I liked best was “Vianne’s Chili” as a tribute to one of my favorites, Chocolat. (I’ll have to get my hands on that recipe!)





Friday, January 15, 2016

Creativity

You can’t use up creativity. 
The more you use, 
the more you have. 
~ Maya Angelou



Creativity takes many forms in my life. Eclectic.

Knitting










I try to knit every day. Some say, “The new yoga.” The click of the needles certainly lulls me into a meditative state easily. When I’m making something for a particular someone, it feels like a constant prayer for them.


Cooking





How thankful I am to have someone so appreciative to cook for! And with! Making dinners now doesn’t feel maintenance at all, as it did for so many years. The best part of cooking creatively is that unless we’re traveling, it happens every day. 


Painting















Something I desire to do more of this year. The act of painting taps into something newer in my life and somehow deeper than the things I’ve done for so many years.


Gardening


Not so much at this time of year in northern Indiana. Yet dreaming of the growing season to come brings a bit of excitement to the greyest of January days.

Teaching
Planning lessons for students touches a part of me creatively. How will they best learn? What do they really need to know? What fun can we have in making the learning happen for them?

Trying New Forms
There are so many creative people in this magnificent world. Being around someone creative makes me feel inspired. Able. Courageous. This afternoon I’m taking a personal art lesson from a university professor. A very creative Christmas gift from my husband! Adventure awaits!

Writing
Not something I’ve spent much time on these past few years. But it is something that always feels good . . . picking up the pen. Sharing a few thoughts with friends. Discovering what thoughts lie within myself.

Photography

Catching a particular moment in time and place. Some of the best photos have become my memory, without every looking at the physical picture, it is in my mind forever.

The idea of creativity is without limits. The idea of co-creation is joy incarnate. Creativity can so easily be left out of my day. Always wanting more. Being intentional about expressing creativity is one way to expand my life. Joyfully living my life to the fullest each day.

Winter Birch

Winter Birch

Books Recently Read

  • Grace (Eventually) Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
  • Think Like a Freak by Steven Levitt
  • Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  • The Red Tent by Anita Diamond
  • The Dinner by Herman Koch
  • The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • The Lake House by Karen Morton
  • Memories of Heaven by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
  • The Whip by Karen Kondazian
  • Purity by Jonathan Franzen
  • The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
  • The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
  • The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
  • The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
  • The Rosie Effect by Graeme Samson
  • The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
  • My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
  • Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
  • Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
  • I Can See Clearly Now by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
  • The Best Part of the Day by Sara Ban Breathnach
  • Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
  • The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
  • Chanel Bonfire by Wendy Lawless
  • The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
  • Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
  • Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris
  • Five Quarters of the the Orange by Joanne Harris
  • Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
  • The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris
  • Chocolat by Joanne Harris
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - A Novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  • There Are No Accidents by Robert Hopcke
  • You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
  • We Thought You Would Be Prettier by Laurie Notaro
  • The Vein of Gold by Julia Cameron
  • Room by Emma Donoghue
  • House at Riverton by Kate Morton
  • Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
  • The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
  • Peace and Plenty by Sarah Ban Breathnach
  • The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
  • On a Day Like This by Peter Stamm
  • Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
  • Brida by Paulo Coelho
  • A Stopover in Venice by Kathryn Walker
  • Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho

Cats don't belong to people. They belong to places. - Wright Morris
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