a great book…..

I love to read and yet I haven't had a book in my hands for quite some time now. At least not a book just for the pleasure of reading and relaxation. There was a book that I have had my eye on for many months and I recently decided I was going to buy it and then I searched it online at our local library and they had it! Perfect! I picked it up on Tuesday and once I had started into the first few pages I couldn't put it down and finished it the next day!  I was spellbound by the writings of a woman who was experiencing something that I somehow related to. If you read on you will wonder how that works since she became a farmer and I am not that at all, but I am certain that in any one of my many former lives that I was that pioneer woman who lived off the land and lived a life not unlike hers. It was just all too familiar to me for it to be less than true.

The book tells of a woman from the big city of New York who leaves what she knows as her comforts and heads to the country to follow a man and his passion for farming. My intrigue with all of this was the transition from the complexity of city living, to the simplicity of a bucolic lifestyle. That impression I must say is a superficial one because we all know that any lifestyle will have its difficulties and complications that will lend itself to anything but simplicity. I though, viewed it in it's most simplest of terms for myself. I live in an small city compared to many and it's really not all that demanding on me. I traverse through my life fairly well but I am longing for that time in my life when things can slow down and be less demanding of my time. Maybe it's because I am in my late 50's and I have lived the 'busy' life, with a career that I still participate in and raising three children in my former years and now I have a longing to change it's pace. There will always be demands but we can choose what that will look like and then the outcomes are so very different. My story isn't much different than many others out there, but for me I feel 'my time' is arriving. It's becoming far more important for me to look at life and realize what I need from it to make me happy. I have so much already in place that makes my life a happy one but the one thing that I long for is a life in the country. This is so ironic in ways because I grew up as a child in the country and felt that it restricted me so much that when I married and moved to the city I vowed I would never, ever live in the country again! Ever! But that pioneer woman inside of me is telling me now to go back. Oh how things change, and then we change and then life also changes. 

The 'call' to someday return to country living is what drew me to this book. The woman in the book left the hectic life of the big city, but for her it was the city life that she knew so well and then in turn was not difficult for her because for her it rang with familiarity. She moved to the country and began a new life that was very unfamiliar to her and at first filled with so many different types of demands, but over time she knew that her heart was happiest in this environment living the life that she chose and that 'her' time had arrived in life. I came to understand that at the end of each day it is what we choose to fill our life with that makes the difference. As I read through the pages of her story that had me so very riveted, I knew that what she had chosen was bigger than anything I would ever undertake at this time in my life, but it reinforced my understanding of what it means to choose a life that you are happy with. It's so important to choose things in life that are of course responsible, but also those that feed our soul and make us happy. We know deep down what they are and it's a matter of listening to that inner voice and taking that step even though sometimes it will feel risky and those first few steps will feel like you are wearing a new shoe instead of the comfort of one that is well broken in. Kristen in the the book followed her heart and many times might have questioned her choice, but in the end she knew that it was what she needed to do. I loved the conviction she had in making this the life she needed for herself. It makes me believe that I can have my country life or a resemblance of such and live out my years more quietly and more simply. Every life has its challenges and yet it's all about choice and what we decide to make of it. The author chose a life that her heart embraced and I have much of that now. I am looking for just one more piece of the puzzle to finish it and it will manifest when it is ready. Until then I choose to participate less with a hectic lifestyle and live simply instead. 

I hope that your choices are ones that your heart embraces. 

Btw…..the book is titled "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball. Check out her website for more info on her book and her life on Essex Farm.

Blessings, 

Maggie

best ever cream of mushroom soup….

It was several years back when my daughter Brianne was away at school that she came across this recipe for mushroom soup. She tried it herself and then she passed it on to me after raving about how good it was and I have been making it from that time on and it is the best mushroom soup ever! It is very simple to make, the ingredient list is not long and you might very well have most of them in your pantry except for the fresh mushrooms.

Just this past week Brianne was stopping in for lunch during her workday and she was thinking that mushroom soup might be tasty. I hadn't' made it in a while so off I went to the grocer's and actually found organic mushrooms on sale so I scooped them up right away and returned home to begin making the soup. It really is a quick and easy recipe and before I knew it we were sitting down to a delicious bowl of homemade mushroom soup!

I tend to use the white button mushrooms and have used crimini also, but do give other types a try too.

Here are some mushroom facts & tips:

• a few cultivated varieties such as white button, crimini, portobello, and enoki can be eaten raw
• most wild varieties should be cooked to ensure food safety
• contain potassium, copper, selenium and are a good source of certain B vitamins
• recent research shows they have powerful phytonutrient potential 
• choose only whole and dry mushrooms with spongy, firm, plump caps
• refrigerate in a paper bag, often provided by the grocer
• if they come from the grocer in plastic as mine did, transfer them to a paper bag for storage with the exception of beech and enoki that will do well in their original container
• most mushrooms can be cleaned with a soft cloth or a vegetable brush
• if you need to rinse them use as little water as possible to prevent nutrient loss and changes in texture
• to reconstitute dry mushrooms cover with hot water and let soak for 30 minutes. These mushrooms will have a chewier consistency and the broth can be used in soups or stews.

It's time to share the recipe with all of you now and I hope you give it a try and love it as much as we do!

I think it was the first time I had noticed organic mushrooms at my local grocer and I was not only thrilled with that but they were on sale so that was even better!

Chop the mushrooms up into whatever size you like to serve in your soup. These were quite large so I ended up cutting them in half. I do like the look of whole slices in the soup for a nice presentation.

Saute them in the butter for several minutes until they become nice and soft.

Whisk the flour into the broth. Since my daughter is vegetarian I always use a veggie broth but you can use chicken or probably even beef broth if you want to enhance the flavour at bit more. She is also gluten sensitive so I use a gluten free flour for her and it works just as well.

Stir the broth into the mushroom mixture and keep stirring until it thickens. Add your cream and watch it become a lovely consistency.

Voila! A delicious bowl of soup ready for your lunch or a first course for dinner. I think it rates as good as any soup you will find on a restaurant menu! Yes, it's that good! 

Best Ever Cream of Mushroom Soup

2 tbsp butter

3 cups mushrooms

1 3/4 cups broth (of your choice)

6 tbsp flour 

1 cup cream

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper 

Melt your butter on medium-high heat and add the mushrooms and stir until tender. Turn the heat down to medium. 

Combine the flour and broth in a separate bowl until smooth. 

Add to the mushrooms and stir until it begins to thicken nicely. 

Add the cream and continue to stir until it is fully incorporated, then add the salt and pepper. 

Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring often. 

Serves 2 good sized bowls of soup.

I hope you will give it a try and let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!!

Maggie

soul baking…….

We are working again on our tile floor this weekend and it's the kind of work that sometimes can be a tandem job for two or it's for one person only. Yesterday we did all the cutting for the hallway so I did all the measuring and marking while Kelly worked the tile saw. It works as a good partnership to get the job done. Today though is the laying of the tile and it's strictly a one person job which Kelly is the master of and that suits me fine. This leaves me though with time on my hands and can limit me in what I might choose to do since the house is in a state of upheaval. The last weekend that we tiled together the kitchen was the focus of our work but since that is now complete I can busy myself there and create. I truly love baking so I was more than happy to open my cupboards and see what I could mix together in a bowl and concoct. Being in the kitchen creating is my idea of time well spent. I love to get lost in my experiences there and allow it to feed my soul. An afternoon of baking therapy is often just what I need. And I need not worry about all those calories since most of the time when it comes to baked goods I barely even touch a morsel of it since I don't partake of sugar as a rule but I enjoy the process of the creation. I decided since the cookie jar was empty I should possibly fill it with some fresh chocolate chip cookies and then I moved on to a banana walnut bread since my freezer is filling up with bananas. After that was done I flipped some more pages in the recipe book and came up with a quick brownie recipe that will head to the freezer for lunches along with the slices of the banana loaf. I love having a selection of ingredients at hand that will turn themselves into a tasty cookie or loaf or bread etc. and not only does it end up feeding your taste buds and belly, but it also feeds your soul. For me it's called baking therapy and this is a good thing……and I like good things.

Here is my banana walnut loaf recipe that I have been making for probably over 25 years…….

Banana Walnut Loaf

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9 x 5" loaf pan.

2 large ripe bananas
1/3 cup soft margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 cup hot water
1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans if you like them better)

1. In a bowl beat bananas and margarine; beat in sugar, egg, egg white and water until smooth.
2.Combine flour and baking soda; stir into batter and all but a few of the nuts, mixing until just blended.
   Do not overmix. Pour into pan; arrange reserved nuts down the middle of the batter mixture. Bake for
   35-45 minutes or until a tester inserted into the centre comes out dry.

I try to use organic ingredients whenever I can and I have also interchanged gluten-free all purpose flour in this recipe and it turned out great. You could even add some raisins if you wanted to. I usually will make two loaves at the same time since the oven is hot anyway and there is plenty of room for two pans. It's just simply more efficient. One loaf can then stay on the counter for snacking on and the other can head to the freezer.

I hope your Saturday is a good one and that you will do something that will feed your soul …...

Maggie

first snow…..

There is something about the first snowfall that makes me reflect on the seasons of change. I can feel it begin in late Summer and early Autumn with the transformation of the trees turning into brilliant washes of colour and jewel like hues of reds, yellow and orange. We all have that experience when we witness that particular tree that will present with the colour changes earlier than any other. We all know that tree and it is our marker that Autumn is beckoning. It is the signal for the others to follow along and landscapes mature into Mother Nature's own artwork painted on the canvas of Mother Earth allowing us to share in postcard moments at a whim. It truly is a gift that behooves us to take a moment and be present to enjoy the beauty for it will not last as the next season is gesturing for its turn also.
The rains and wind of the season will then often arrive and strip the trees of their resplendent foliage leaving only the stark silhouette of it's original form that was so ready in Spring to burst forth with green. I am reminded of lace-like patterns when I see them standing so beautifully in a field against a clear sky of winter blue or one that may have snow clouds on the horizon. And then it happens….. the snow arrives. Whether it be of consequence or just a light dusting it heralds the fact that Winter is going to be upon us soon. This morning offered that moment for me as I saw outside my kitchen window that Old Man Winter had sent a few flakes our way to let us know that he was now presiding over the season. We shift from full colour to the brilliance of white. The smallest of flakes forming together to create a blanket for us to keep us warm until Spring. This is what I experienced this morning and I captured this photo when I let Micah outside.

Stay warm,
Maggie

my flu shot choice…….

I've had this commentary running through my head for a while now. It involves the policies that many institutions are setting in place regarding the flu season and particularly the way that those persons choosing not to get the flu shot will be treated. I understand that a policy needs to be in place but I beg to differ with the content at times. The most common policy for most facilities present day is that if there is a flu outbreak, the staff that have not had the flu shot will be sent home without pay because they cannot apparently offer any protection to their patients. This year the newest trend is for those that are non-compliant to wear a mask when there is an outbreak. I can deal with either of these policies and they will not sway my decision to be able to 'choose' how I approach my wellness. What I do differ with is that those of us who choose to not have the shot have been referred to as being a threat not only to patients but to people in society as a whole. My, oh my, those are very strong words. I also recently read that there is a correlation between patient mortality and the level of compliance of staff receiving the flu shot. Once again very strong words. It feels to me that those of us who choose 'personal choice' are made out to be the undesirables who in fact are out to harm others by having made this choice. I can only speak for myself but this ideology to me is so far from my truth that it greatly disappoints me and I am personally offended. I do my best each and every day to live a life that will support my wellness on all levels. It is a holistic health philosophy that I choose to participate in 12 months of the year as opposed to a moment where I will receive an injection that will magically make me be what they want me to be.

 I feel as though my efforts to live a life filled with healthy choices is completely negated by the fact that my personal choice is to not receive the flu shot. My wellness plan involves supporting my immunity during the entire year and boosting it during the flu season. My wellness plan involves so much more and yet it seems to count for nothing.

We all are allowed to make a choice and I have made mine. To live my life as best I can every day and promote my wellness similarly……..that's all.

Wishing health and wellness for all,

Maggie

hmm.....

Sunday.... day three in my world of working weekends. So glad for it to be here and will make it through fine. I make it sound like its such a dreadful thing but in reality it is a long 36 hours to work in three days. It does have its payoff in the end and that is the ring you keep reaching for. The time change was also last night and there is always a sense of nervousness in that I always hope that I have done the right thing with the alarm so as to awaken me at the right time. During the night I awoke and at that time I checked my phone and saw that it had changed by itself and I thought that I had changed the clock properly, but in fact I hadn't. I was awake early though and Kelly checked in with me in a sleepy voice to ask if my alarm had gone off and was I getting up. It was a 'no' and then a 'yes' to those pointed questions on the first day of the time change and I quickly placed my feet on the floor and began my morning ritual for work.

This is when Autumn really sets in for me and the days becoming shorter are the proverbial sign of the cold weather arriving on our doorstep. It's a time that I have had to bring myself to embrace as I am not one who enjoys the cold. The thoughts of winter scenes of freshly fallen snow with the sun creating diamond like sparkles are romanticized in my mind and capturing these moments in reality keep me focused on making it through my winter months. Give me an afternoon curled up on the sofa with a blanket to keep my warm and a good book and I'm a happy girl ....... add a cup of hot tea or a glass of wine and I am even happier. In the cold months I have to create an atmosphere to live in that will nurture me through what I have always disliked. This works for me now and lets me reach for Spring more easily.

Namaste,

Maggie

my weekend......

I work as a nurse at our local hospital and consequently I have to work weekends. I only work every other weekend but I truly can't wait for the day that my life as a weekend worker will be finished. My partner Kelly has a Monday thru Friday job and therefore each weekend off and I envy her for that. My envy is only though due to the fact that I can't be off at the same time with her so that we can live life on the same plane for the day. Does this tell you that I'm so in love with her.... ha... I smile as I write this because this is my truth and if I go into that, well, that will be a whole other blog post. So as it stands I work my weekends and when my weekend off arrives I treasure it greatly and savour each moment that we have. It's just the way I feel about it.

Hope your weekend is a good one!

Maggie