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I have to say I'm really thankful for this week in limbo. It's given me some time and space to spend with friends, finish packing... and let it sink in that I'm really moving. Really. There are big changes ahead, and I am excited... and the tiniest bit nervous. I rarely have such an overarching feeling of peace and YES in moving forward. It feels so graceful, and I am so grateful. Makes me wanna laugh and jump up and down on the bed!
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
More raw food!
Technically, it's summer, but it feels like fall here in Virginia, and we on the farm are pretty excited about that (peaches are still in, so it's really lovely). On September 1st, the weather changed noticeably- it made me laugh because it was such a clear change. So it's absolutely gorgeous here, and the smell of woodfire lingers at night.
And of course the crops are changing too. Tomatoes have slowed down, and we have fields of broccoli, kale, collards, and other brassicas growing like gangbusters in addition to butternut and kabocha (my favorite!) winter squashes. One vegetable that's come back is the radish. I love to take these to market because they're absolutely beautiful! With their bright red fruit and healthy green leaves, they jump out at you off the table. And they're so crunchy and spicy and refreshing. So I began my lunch today with this salad that I made up. It's really easy and yummy and spicy.
Sweet & Spicy Radish Salad 1 Quaker Valley ginger gold apple
10 small or 5 large Tree & Leaf red radishes
1 2" hunk of ginger
1 clove of Tree & Leaf garlic
1 Tbsp. dark honey or maple syrup
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Dashes of both cinnamon & nutmeg
1/2 avocado, sliced
Grate apple, radishes, ginger, and garlic into a bowl.
Add honey, lemon, and spices and toss.
Top with avocado slices and sprinkle with salt.
And of course the crops are changing too. Tomatoes have slowed down, and we have fields of broccoli, kale, collards, and other brassicas growing like gangbusters in addition to butternut and kabocha (my favorite!) winter squashes. One vegetable that's come back is the radish. I love to take these to market because they're absolutely beautiful! With their bright red fruit and healthy green leaves, they jump out at you off the table. And they're so crunchy and spicy and refreshing. So I began my lunch today with this salad that I made up. It's really easy and yummy and spicy.
Sweet & Spicy Radish Salad 1 Quaker Valley ginger gold apple
10 small or 5 large Tree & Leaf red radishes
1 2" hunk of ginger
1 clove of Tree & Leaf garlic
1 Tbsp. dark honey or maple syrup
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Dashes of both cinnamon & nutmeg
1/2 avocado, sliced
Grate apple, radishes, ginger, and garlic into a bowl.
Add honey, lemon, and spices and toss.
Top with avocado slices and sprinkle with salt.
Monday, February 16, 2009
A change is gonna come...
on May 26. That is the day that I am scheduled to start work at Tree and Leaf Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Purcellville, VA. I'll be working there through October 31, learning everything there is to learn about planting, harvesting, and selling organic vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers. Woohoo!
YES, I am excited! I am on my way to the country, to learn how to farm sustainably and organically, to see whether or not I really want to do this rural farming thing that's been tugging at my heart for years now and that has become more and more insistent in the past 9 months or so. I know it may seem incredibly random, and I don't have a big explanation for it other than... I want to do this. I'm really excited to be moving on, getting out and about to explore new territory and adventure. I have never farmed before. Sure, I've had herb gardens and grown tomatoes, and I can usually figure out what to do with the food once it gets to my kitchen, but I have no clue about farming. I do know that I'm the second generation of my family with no dependance on the land or defining relationship to the seasons or the harvest, but I am keenly interested in living in relationship with the earth. My grandmother grew up in a family of ten children on a farm in during the 1920s. The only things they bought were coffee and sugar, and they had no idea there was a depression going on throughout the country. That's pretty powerful, especially when you consider the economic climate we face today, the rise of small, organic farms, and the unbelievable devilry of Monsanto.
And how does one explain the heart? It doesn't make sense, but the faint tattoo of the country calling to my heart has suddenly grown louder and louder.
This change does bring a lot of questions to the table, like what I'll do with my house and where I'll be in November and beyond.
As for the house, my aim is to rent it out to people I trust to take care of it, enjoy it, and pay rent on time and in full. I have not yet found those people. I did seriously consider selling it, and I met with my realtor to discuss those plans. But after sitting with the idea of selling for a few days, I feel a lot more comfortable with renting it. I know that it could be a huge hassle, especially considering the distance. So I'm aiming to rent it out but am still open to selling it - please contact me if you're interested in living in a gorgeous, redone Craftsman home.
And November? Right now I have no plans beyond work on the farm. A friend and fellow arts educator pointed me to Wolf Trap for possible job opportunities, so I may check that out, or I may winter in Knoxville or DC. I really don't know. I just finalized these plans this week, so I'm still excited about it all and haven't thought much past them. If you have more questions for me, feel free to post them here or e-mail me- I need people to ask me challenging questions since I know I haven't even begun to consider all points of the situation. And that's all for now.
Further up and further in!
YES, I am excited! I am on my way to the country, to learn how to farm sustainably and organically, to see whether or not I really want to do this rural farming thing that's been tugging at my heart for years now and that has become more and more insistent in the past 9 months or so. I know it may seem incredibly random, and I don't have a big explanation for it other than... I want to do this. I'm really excited to be moving on, getting out and about to explore new territory and adventure. I have never farmed before. Sure, I've had herb gardens and grown tomatoes, and I can usually figure out what to do with the food once it gets to my kitchen, but I have no clue about farming. I do know that I'm the second generation of my family with no dependance on the land or defining relationship to the seasons or the harvest, but I am keenly interested in living in relationship with the earth. My grandmother grew up in a family of ten children on a farm in during the 1920s. The only things they bought were coffee and sugar, and they had no idea there was a depression going on throughout the country. That's pretty powerful, especially when you consider the economic climate we face today, the rise of small, organic farms, and the unbelievable devilry of Monsanto.
And how does one explain the heart? It doesn't make sense, but the faint tattoo of the country calling to my heart has suddenly grown louder and louder.
This change does bring a lot of questions to the table, like what I'll do with my house and where I'll be in November and beyond.
As for the house, my aim is to rent it out to people I trust to take care of it, enjoy it, and pay rent on time and in full. I have not yet found those people. I did seriously consider selling it, and I met with my realtor to discuss those plans. But after sitting with the idea of selling for a few days, I feel a lot more comfortable with renting it. I know that it could be a huge hassle, especially considering the distance. So I'm aiming to rent it out but am still open to selling it - please contact me if you're interested in living in a gorgeous, redone Craftsman home.
And November? Right now I have no plans beyond work on the farm. A friend and fellow arts educator pointed me to Wolf Trap for possible job opportunities, so I may check that out, or I may winter in Knoxville or DC. I really don't know. I just finalized these plans this week, so I'm still excited about it all and haven't thought much past them. If you have more questions for me, feel free to post them here or e-mail me- I need people to ask me challenging questions since I know I haven't even begun to consider all points of the situation. And that's all for now.
Further up and further in!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Redirection: Vocation
So I quit my gig as an office manager at the end of November, and since then I've been pursuing work that I'm passionate about, mostly things with food, dance, and music. I've been writing a lot too, mostly on this blog, but a bit of a song came to me one night, and I feel like I'm moving towards poetry again.
Most of my paying gigs have had to do with food, but it's becoming clearer each day that making food my main vocation will not be helpful to me. The thing is, I need to work around people and not around food as much. For me, working directly with food is not unlike an alcoholic working as a bartender. It's funny how once I decided to pursue personal chefing, I became very focused on it, and it was really difficult for me to realize that it's not something I have to do at all. This is a recent admission, so my focus will change from working with food to working with people, and I'm happy about that. In order for me to be happy, I have to be around people.
And lately, when I'm at a restaurant, I realize more and more how much I miss waitressing. Really. I dig it. It may sound crazy, but I do enjoy waitressing. There's always variety, you're usually surrounded by people, and it's demanding. Since it seems like I'm still looking for direction, I may as well do something I enjoy and make some money in the meantime. So tonight I talked to Trace at Tomato Head about the application I already have in there, and I got an application for La Costa, so we'll see what happens. I really want to be on Market Square.
Another thought I'd like to pursue: how would I get to write for a newspaper like the Metro Pulse or Skirt? I'd have a lot of fun with that. Other than making money off this blog, which I really want to do, but Google Adsense doesn't seem to work, and I can't figure out what's wrong (help, anyone?).
Most of my paying gigs have had to do with food, but it's becoming clearer each day that making food my main vocation will not be helpful to me. The thing is, I need to work around people and not around food as much. For me, working directly with food is not unlike an alcoholic working as a bartender. It's funny how once I decided to pursue personal chefing, I became very focused on it, and it was really difficult for me to realize that it's not something I have to do at all. This is a recent admission, so my focus will change from working with food to working with people, and I'm happy about that. In order for me to be happy, I have to be around people.
And lately, when I'm at a restaurant, I realize more and more how much I miss waitressing. Really. I dig it. It may sound crazy, but I do enjoy waitressing. There's always variety, you're usually surrounded by people, and it's demanding. Since it seems like I'm still looking for direction, I may as well do something I enjoy and make some money in the meantime. So tonight I talked to Trace at Tomato Head about the application I already have in there, and I got an application for La Costa, so we'll see what happens. I really want to be on Market Square.
Another thought I'd like to pursue: how would I get to write for a newspaper like the Metro Pulse or Skirt? I'd have a lot of fun with that. Other than making money off this blog, which I really want to do, but Google Adsense doesn't seem to work, and I can't figure out what's wrong (help, anyone?).
Monday, April 21, 2008
Redirection: Relationships
I've been thinking for a while about relationships, specifically of the dating/we're together kind: openness to one, compatibility, patterns, communication, needs, issues, transparency, etc. I was also seeing someone for most of March, and in his absence (he's in Colorado til June), we're each thinking things over, talking a little, and enjoying some space and a break from dating each other. I've done a lot of reflecting and redirecting, so here's a sample:
I've learned that I don't trust microwaved intimacy in dating. Just because you share really deep stuff really soon doesn't mean you really know the person or that you're committed to one another in the least. It can turn out really badly. Time heals all wounds, and this time it's been different, but overall, I think a crock pot is the better option for me.
I've learned that rushing into and out of relationships is harsh, and it leaves me in a bad place where I feel alone, isolated, unsure, and, ultimately, depressed. And somehow, I never see it coming. Sure, there's something to be said for living in the moment, but foresight is really handy at times.
I've learned that I tend to do both of the afore-mentioned things, especially in the springtime.
I've learned that I don't have to flip out if I don't know what's going to happen next. Because really, I never do. I still don't. But I'm increasingly more and more at peace with not knowing, with not having the answers.
Another thing I've learned is that I expect chaos from a romantic relationship- being in love is unpredictable and crazy and dramatic and emotional, right? Hmmm... maybe not all the time. I'm thinking that it's not the best idea to expect and look for chaos. I understand why I do this- it was a huge part of my childhood that I had to learn to live with, and so I ended up feeling a need for chaos. It's made me super adaptable, which has been both blessing and curse. But I don't want chaos as an integral part of a relationship, and so I'm glad I've seen this.
I've also learned that the word "irreplaceable" is incredibly important to me. It's come up a couple of times, most recently in small group, and it always catches my attention. I read Captivating a few years ago, and now I seem to be intimately acquainting myself with it again, only this time from the inside out.
Ultimately, this brings me back to community, to the importance of being a part of one and seeing firsthand how you affect others and how they affect you. I'm thinking that if I were plugged into and living in community with other people, it would be harder to cling to my bad relationship habits without getting called out. And seeing myself valued by others helps me value myself more. For example, a friend of mine got really protective of me when he came to my house to work on a lesson and unexpectedly found Dave, sitting on my love seat, typing away on his Mac. A few weeks later when Dave was back in Colorado, we were all out at Barley's to hear Christabel & the Jons. I plopped down next to my friend and laid my head in his lap; he massaged my face and played with my hair. After doing that for a few minutes, he announced that anyone interested in me should have to do nice things like that for 2 months before he got anywhere with me. Wow. Truly, it is awesome, and perhaps more essential than I ever believed, to feel loved and protected.
I've learned that I don't trust microwaved intimacy in dating. Just because you share really deep stuff really soon doesn't mean you really know the person or that you're committed to one another in the least. It can turn out really badly. Time heals all wounds, and this time it's been different, but overall, I think a crock pot is the better option for me.
I've learned that rushing into and out of relationships is harsh, and it leaves me in a bad place where I feel alone, isolated, unsure, and, ultimately, depressed. And somehow, I never see it coming. Sure, there's something to be said for living in the moment, but foresight is really handy at times.
I've learned that I tend to do both of the afore-mentioned things, especially in the springtime.
I've learned that I don't have to flip out if I don't know what's going to happen next. Because really, I never do. I still don't. But I'm increasingly more and more at peace with not knowing, with not having the answers.
Another thing I've learned is that I expect chaos from a romantic relationship- being in love is unpredictable and crazy and dramatic and emotional, right? Hmmm... maybe not all the time. I'm thinking that it's not the best idea to expect and look for chaos. I understand why I do this- it was a huge part of my childhood that I had to learn to live with, and so I ended up feeling a need for chaos. It's made me super adaptable, which has been both blessing and curse. But I don't want chaos as an integral part of a relationship, and so I'm glad I've seen this.
I've also learned that the word "irreplaceable" is incredibly important to me. It's come up a couple of times, most recently in small group, and it always catches my attention. I read Captivating a few years ago, and now I seem to be intimately acquainting myself with it again, only this time from the inside out.
Ultimately, this brings me back to community, to the importance of being a part of one and seeing firsthand how you affect others and how they affect you. I'm thinking that if I were plugged into and living in community with other people, it would be harder to cling to my bad relationship habits without getting called out. And seeing myself valued by others helps me value myself more. For example, a friend of mine got really protective of me when he came to my house to work on a lesson and unexpectedly found Dave, sitting on my love seat, typing away on his Mac. A few weeks later when Dave was back in Colorado, we were all out at Barley's to hear Christabel & the Jons. I plopped down next to my friend and laid my head in his lap; he massaged my face and played with my hair. After doing that for a few minutes, he announced that anyone interested in me should have to do nice things like that for 2 months before he got anywhere with me. Wow. Truly, it is awesome, and perhaps more essential than I ever believed, to feel loved and protected.
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