The Icy World

YES, IT'S BEEN A COLD, SNOWY WINTER HERE IN NEW ENGLAND. THERE'S BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLAINING GOING ON THIS WEEK ABOUT THE WEATHER. IT'S HARD ON US, TRUE. AND I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS - I'VE EXPRESSED MY LONGING FOR SPRING ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE. BUT LET'S TRY THIS: LIKE STOPPING TO SMELL THE PROVERBIAL ROSES, LET'S STOP TO SAVOR THE AWESOME BEAUTY OF THE FROZEN LANDSCAPE.
HERE'S A LINK TO WARM YOUR HEART - A FINE THING THAT HAPPENED ON A VERY COLD DAY.

A Late Blooming Christmas Gift

THIS GORGEOUS AMARYLLIS IS JUST OPENING TODAY. IT WAS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM DEBORAH. THERE'S A PINK ONE COMING ALONG TOO - A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM SUNSHINE. THANKS LADIES!

Snow Day Cookie Baking, Gluten Free

WITH ALL THE SNOW & SLEET TODAY, I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK, SO I FINALLY MADE THESE GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. I USED THIS RECIPE FROM GLUTEN FREE GIRL'S BLOG. IT WAS DEVELOPED BY HER FRIEND NINA.
IN THIS RECIPE THE GLUTEN FREE REPLACEMENTS FOR WHEAT FLOUR ARE TEFF, SORGHUM AND SWEET RICE FLOURS, AND FLAX SEED MEAL.
FULL OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND WALNUTS, THESE COOKIES TASTE GREAT RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN. I CHECKED BY EATING THREE OF THEM! I'LL TRY ANOTHER WHEN THEY'VE COOLED. (I DID - AND THEY'RE EVEN BETTER WHEN THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO COOL!)

A Different Kind of Project

I'M WORKING ON A LAYOUT AND MATERIALS ESTIMATE FOR THE KITCHENETTE AT THE NEW SHAMBHALA CENTER. I'M SO GLAD TODAY IS A SNOW DAY AND UMASS IS CLOSED. IT'S DIVINE TO HAVE SOME TIME TO PUT INTO THIS PROJECT!

What Colors?

SOME FRIENDS AND I ARE ON THE COLOR COMMITTEE FOR THE NEW SHAMBHALA CENTER IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS. HERE WE ARE - STRUGGLING OVER WHAT COLORS TO PAINT THE ROOMS. IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN ANY OF US EXPECTED. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE THE SPACE WILL BE WONDERFUL, BUT THIS PROCESS IS QUITE HARD!

A Pretty Breakfast

I'M NOT ONE TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF BREAKFAST. I JUST HAVE TO EAT SOMETHING QUICK TO GET GOING IN THE MORNING. MY USUAL THESE DAYS IS A MESA SUNRISE GLUTEN FREE TOASTER WAFFLE WITH GREEK YOGURT & MAPLE SYRUP.
THE OTHER DAY I WAS READING ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLUEBERRIES, AND THOUGHT THEY'D BE A NICE ADDITION. WHILE BUYING A BAG OF FROZEN BLUEBERRIES I SPOTTED FROZEN PEACHES - SO I PICKED THOSE UP TOO. I JUST POURED A FEW OF EACH INTO A LITTLE BOWL, MICROWAVED THEM FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND ADDED THEM TO THE MIX.
THE PEACHES LOOK GOOD, DON'T THEY? THEY'RE AWFUL - UNRIPE AND TASTELESS. I'LL BE STICKING WITH THE BERRIES THOUGH - THEY REALLY TOOK IT UP A NOTCH.

Baking Gluten Free Bread

WELL, HERE IT IS - MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT GLUTEN FREE BREAD. INSPIRED BY THIS POST ON GLUTI GIRLS BLOG, I USED THE MILLET-OATMEAL BREAD RECIPE FROM GLUTEN FREE MOMMY, FOUND HERE. I FOLLOWED THE RECIPE FAITHFULLY, USING THE BREAD MACHINE ADAPTATION. THE TEXTURE IS REALLY GOOD! IT'S REALLY BREAD. SO COOL!
EXCEPT . . . THERE IS SOME VERY SLIGHT BITTER/SOUR SMELL AND AFTERTASTE THAT I HAVE TO IDENTIFY. WHAT COULD IT BE? FLAX SEED MEAL? XANTHAN GUM? IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY, TAKE A PEEK AT THE RECIPE AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW. (I USED CORN STARCH IN PLACE OF ARROWROOT STARCH - I COULDN'T FIND ANY AT WHOLE FOODS; THE BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES I USED IS QUITE DARK, MAKING THE BREAD A DARKER COLOR THAN THE OTHER PICTURES OF IT ON THE WEB.)
OF COURSE IT DIDN'T STOP ME FROM CUTTING A THICK SLICE, SLATHERING IT WITH BUTTER AND ENJOYING IT QUITE THOROUGHLY!

On The Shelf

I HAVEN'T POSTED IN QUITE WHILE. I GUESS I'M IN A BIT OF A WINTER FUNK.
I SUPPOSE IT'S TIME FOR SOME ADDED EXERTION!

TOP SHELF, L TO R: FEMINIST AND FEMININE ART BOOKS; A WOODEN ELEPHANT GIVEN TO ME BY ANANDA; THE BUTTON HOLE ATTACHMENT TO MY 1951 SINGER SEWING MACHINE; BOOKS BY LYNDA BARRY ON TOP OF SOME OM YOGA INSTRUCTION CARDS.

MIDDLE SHELF: A COCONUT SHELL I'VE BEEN SAVING FOR 25 YEARS - I KEEP THINKING I MIGHT MAKE A HANGING PLANT BASKET OUT OF IT; MEXICAN DAY OF THE DEAD SKULLS; A LITTLE BOOKLET ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE; A PAPER MACHIE PIG HEAD MADE BY ANANDA IN SECOND GRADE (HER TINSEL HAIR FELL OFF YEARS AGO); A BASKET, CONTENTS UNKNOWN!

BOTTOM SHELF: A NAUTILUS SHELL I GAVE TO MY DAD AS A GIFT - WHEN HE DIED I BROUGHT IT HOME; A LITTLE SOFTIE THAT FOR SOME REASON REMINDS ME OF MY CHILDHOOD ELEPHANT PINKY, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE HIM; A CHICKEN PINCUSHION MADE BY ELISABETH RADYSH, WITH A POSTCARD OF A JAPANESE MASK; A BUNCH OF TINY TOYS MADE BY ELISABETH RADYSH.

ELISABETH MAKES WONDERFUL TOYS IN THE WALDORF TRADITION. CHECK HER WEBSITE OUT BY CLICKING HERE.

Phase Two

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PHASES THERE WILL BE, BUT HERE'S NUMBER TWO.
I HAVE TO STOP NOW - MORE TOMORROW!

Phase One

I'M TRYING A NEW WAY OF PAINTING. JUST GET SOMETHING ON THE SURFACE, AND THEN RESPOND TO IT, WITHOUT ANY AGENDA OR PLAN. JUST SEE WHAT ARISES. LAST NIGHT I COMPLETELY PAINTED OVER AN OLD CANVAS, AND GOT THIS FAR. IT WAS FUN, FRUSTRATING, AND JUST FELT RIGHT. I'M ABOUT TO GET BACK INTO IT. I'LL SHOW YOU THE NEXT PHASE LATER.