Monday, March 23, 2020

What's Cooking

Several years ago a friend introduced me to David Lebovitz's granola recipe.
I started making it on a regular basis for Scott who loves cereal. 
I've doctored the recipe which is held together by applesauce, coconut oil and honey.
I don't use any sugar, decreased the honey and increased the appleasauce.
Each batch is slightly different depending on the combination of nuts and dried fruit on hand.
It's become a kitchen staple.


100 Day Project 8/100


Sunday, March 22, 2020

100 Day Project 7/100


Thursday, March 19, 2020

Cloistered

Honestly, life right now is surreal.  
The entire population is figuring how to contain and combat this infectious disease.
There's that, and then there's my incongruous reality.
There's a simple serenity to the rhythm of my days.
In addition to working remotely, I marvel at the expansive sky from my windows. 
Mother nature has been putting on a show in Los Angeles. 
Frequent showers, dramatic cloud formations and poetic sunsets.
I've begun The 100 Day Project — a photo a day with my DSLR.
My refrigerator is fully stocked and demands attention.
Morning menu planning leads to intermittent bouts of prep work through out the day.
Long walks in the lush hillside break up the indoor activities. 
I'm not bored or antsy for there's still so much more to tackle.
Then I'll sneeze or Scott will cough and a dark thought will creep across my brain.
Is the enemy already here?
Will the tranquility be replaced by something else?  Will loved ones suffer?
This is only day four.
What will five bring?

These photos were taken on a morning run to Trader Joe's.
I hadn't been there since last Thursday when shoppers were
friendly but their behavior screamed "panic mode".
Today was a different scene:
A line spiraled around the parking lot, mad longer by the distance between shoppers.
A few customers were let in at a time to ensure safety and calm.
Some items are still impossible to find,
but for the most part the shelves were well stocked.
My goal is to avoid stores for the next ten days.
Have we purchased wisely?
Time will tell.









Know My Name




One of most powerful and poetic books I've read read in years.
This rape case, or preciously the judge's ruling, rocked me.
Hearing the story in Chanel's own words was beyond moving and illuminating. 


The judge had given Brock something that would never be extended to me: empathy.
My pain was never more valuable than his potential.

I did not come into existence when he harmed me.
She found her voice!
I had a voice, he stopped it, left me groping around blind for a bit,
but I always had it.
I just used it like I never had to use it before.
I do not owe him my success, becoming, he did not create me.
The only credit Brock can take is for assaulting me, and he could never even admit to that.

Chanel Miller





Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Existence


As Covid-19 sweeps the globe, I'm reaching deep down inside to draw on strength and spirituality.
It's challenging to find the balance between staying informed and remaining calm.
The news is BLEAK and foreboding.  
Images of once bustling European city squares devoid of humans, 
empty NYC subway cars at rush hour, and bare grocery shelfs are stuff of sci-fi cinema. 
Reports from the front line in Italy rattle my well-being.
Every day it sinks in a little more — what was normal is on hold.  
For the foreseeable future we are living siloed in our individual pods,
securing our seat belts for a fucking wild ride.
What the other side of this pandemic looks like is anyone's guess.
But first we have to get there.

Photo by Kim Krans