i'm working again

wet eyes of security lost
she runs the comb through eyelashes clumped with mascara
lights camera splashes
copper tint on her eyes, copper paint on her nails
those bitten with anxiety
those scratches on his back
how funny what ordinary things become weapons

the books and to do lists and dishes pile up
and she steps over laundry to step into the cool water
but no matter how many times
how.many.times
she scrubs
it just won't wash away

not like the photos
not like the notes
and not like the hopes and promises

this is not mine
this is just, not mine

this is not my walk
through my beautiful park

anymore





.

Harvest Feast

Thanksgiving is always a very weird time for me.  Being a School Teacher for years I have gotten increasingly more despondent over the American teaching of Columbus, the Native Americans and what Thanksgiving is all about.  Some schools have been worse than others throughout the years.  Some schools completely omit the story, which I feel sometimes is more truthful than what we did growing up.  

I remember growing up making "Indian" and "Pilgrim" costumes out of paper bags and wearing them to school for a big Thanksgiving feast.  Later, when I was enlightened by the more honest story of our Nation's beginnings, I was so distraught that my Teachers participated and had us participate in such nonsense.  In fact, I was downright hurt that these Teachers who I trusted so much would just flat out LIE to us. 

That being said, Thanksgiving is a hard time for me and I have gone back and forth as to whether I would celebrate it at all in fact...but it is hard not to take some time to eat good food and spend time with family, friends and loved ones.  

I like to see Thanksgiving as more of a celebration of the Harvest.  So my sister, her husband and our friends Marek and Kristyna did just that!  We used local, in season vegetables, and cheated with a Tofurky and made a yummy feast to enjoy with one another.   

My sister and her husband found out that their gas was out at their complex, and so we had to get a little bit inventive with the preparation of the feast!  

Honza roasting beets and celery root

highly sophisticated methods of checking food

Malomar happy to be off leash and running around.

Marek wearing his "traditional Czech winter hat" and me in the woods. 

We went on a walk before we finished making dinner and spend some time wandering through an Old Cemetery.  As depressing as this is, in Rye there was a separate African Cemetery away from the dead white folk, in a way off unkept area.  It was sort of humbling to see this and reminded me of how much a Nation can change.  (Not to say that we don't still have a lot of work to do in regards to equality).   

We also took a nice walk in the woods as the sun set.  

check out those dates!  

It is so nice to make an entire meal from scratch (okay okay, except for that processed Tofurky that we have all grown to love).  Here are some photos of our Vegan Harvest Feast! (PS...not to brag, but of course I will...my Brother-in-Law even brewed his own Pumpkin Ale for the occasion! He rules)

curried pumpkin soup with pumpkin seeds

sweet potato mash

roasted beets

tofurky with cherries made by yours truly

My beautiful harvest plate,  I love filling my plate with a variety of colors!

Fused Glass that my sister is currently working on.  She is so talented! 

vegan pumpkin ice cream

whole wheat apple pie and pumpkin ice cream. yum!

Hope you had a wonderful time with friends and family as well!

xoh!

d

Don't Buy It, DIY It!

Want a super easy...and when i say super easy I mean SUPER easy way to make Autumn inspired place cards?! These took only a few minutes each, and are so simple and fun!

First: Gather your materials:

Multi Colored Felt

Scissors

Thread

Sewing Machine or Sewing Needles

Pins

Next: Cut out your leaf shapes

I cut simple leaf shapes and layered 3 shapes for each place card

Then: pin shapes together

Last: Sew shapes together with an initial for each guest!

Happy Sewing!

xoh!

d

I Am Hooked!

If you haven't yet read the young adult series, The Hunger Games, I highly suggest you pick it up.  Lee and I picked up a copy each this weekend, to read tandem style long distance...and I just could not put it down!  I finished the book this morning on the train and am going to immediately pick up the next book in the series.  

I am hooked!

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

This weekend was so lovely, spent perusing book stores, and reading and relaxing.  The animals were even super cozy and happy to have people around the apartment.  As much as I love traveling on the weekends, I feel guilty sometimes leaving the little ones all alone.  I suppose it would be less of a big deal if I didn't work such long hours during the week! 

Ganoushie: cute sleep style

Malomar and Ganoushie

Okay, I am heading straight from work to the bookstore to pick up the next in the series!

Hope you have a wonderful Monday night too! I know I will!

xoh!

d

I'm Thankful For...

Yesterday, true to a Thursday's form...it was so bananas that I totally did not have time to post my Thankful Thursday post.  The reason that I started to list things I was happy for on Thursdays was because, for some reason in the teaching profession...Thursdays are my hardest days.  

This week was no exception, but I had some things that got me through... 

Big warm fuzzy sweaters.  This one was given to me by my friend Rebecca and quickly became my new favorite comfy piece. 

Cooking fresh Kale and Mushrooms from the Farmer's Market.

The laughs I get when my cat tries to sneak up and take my food away from me.  You can take the cat out of the alley...

After work treats with my beautiful friend.  Left: Vegan Carrot Cake, Right: Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake.

My cake tasted more like mousse apparently.  I don't know, I've never had cheesecake before!  Isn't Jenn lovely?

Jenn made me laugh so hard at dinner that my mascara ran down my eyes from laughter.  Isn't that the best?!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

xoh!

d

Live, Listen and Learn V.5 (Martha Martha Martha)

Today I was stressing the importance of re-reading books to my 1st grade Reading group.  

We talked about how sometimes when you read, you do not get all of the information the first time around.  I used a book I had just re-read and finished this morning on my commute as an example.  I have definitely read my share of my favorite books time and time again.  Go ahead and ask me how many times I have read Animal Vegetable Miracle.  I cannot get sick of Kingsolver's writing or the story; and the inspiration that I draw from that book each time I pick it back up is infectious!  

While I had read The Martha Rules once before, and maybe even twice before, I knew that there is valuable information in that book that I should certainly be reminded of.

I remember when Martha Stewart had gotten into all of those lengthly legal battles involving her personal portfolio and perhaps some unwise or misguided decisions.  I felt as if she was being made an example of, and quite frankly I felt she was targeted even more because she is a woman in a place of high power.  She is also a very visible woman, who inspires many others and this situation had the potential to absolutely crush her career, and the empire she had built up by elevating the Art of homemaking into something to be revered and respected.

Even though I was aware this type of situation could potentially halt all of the successes she had made, I had a feeling Martha would come through shining brighter than ever.

Martha has the unique gift of creating beauty where others see work.  She has the ability to bring together and manage a design team of incredibly talented people and she has the charisma to inspire and empower others around her.  She is ultimately a very gifted teacher.  

As the R train neared Times Square, and I was finishing up the book, I re-read a paragraph that I would like to share with you. 

Martha writes: 

"There are certain things that just can't be taken away from you: not by a change in government regulations, not by a fire in the warehouse, not be a betrayal of a trustee, not even by a federal trial and incarceration.  The precious things that remain are you ideas, your determination, your work ethic, your loyal colleagues, your mentors and all of the other friends who care about you and encourage you." 

What an absolutely inspirational message in a world where we often get discouraged and feel a little bit lost.  Thank you Martha. 

xoh!

d

Don't Buy It, DIY It!

Cooler weather has come...and that brings with it warm toasty mittens...thick wool socks and curling up with a book and a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up!

What better to warm you up than homemade spicy hot chocolate, passed down through the ages from the Mayans!

Sure, you could go to Whole Foods and pick up a pre-made mixture of Spicy Hot Cocoa...but is that really all that fun?  The time it takes to make your own hot chocolate pays for itself in tenfold as soon as you take your first delicious sip. 

So Don't Buy it, DIY It!

Spicy Hot Cocoa 2 Ways:

Spicy Hot Chocolate with Bittersweet Cocoa and Allspice:

1/2 cup finely ground or grated bittersweet chocolate  

1 cup soy milk (or you can use regular milk if you aren't vegan, but shhhh)

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch ground allspice

Pinch cardamom

Cinnamon stick, for garnish

In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate and milk, add the cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if you wanna get all fancy like.  

~or~

Spicy Hot Chocolate with Bittersweet Cocoa and Allspice:

2 red chiles, crushed  

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

4 cups soy milk (again, shhhh)

In a medium saucepan, heat the soy milk over low heat.  Add the chiles and steep for 10 minutes.  Strain the milk and discard the chiles.  Place flavored milk back into saucepan over low.  Add the vanilla extract and then slowly pour in the chocolate chips and stir until melted. 

Pour into mugs and enjoy!

Happy Lounging!

xoh!

d