Winter warmer when we pause

13 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by home, garden, life in beverages, dormant season, easy recipe, healthy food, Keto, Paleo, quick recipes, sustainable eating, winter

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Keto, Paleo, quick recipes, Winter Warmer beverage

I write this on a January morning, with overcast skies and the temperature at 48F. At last I can boast that the interior temperature is now a blazing 68F! A far cry from last week!
There is still frozen snow about, making any yard work impossible. The broken crape myrtle branches are a sad sight, on the ground and many still hang from the crown. I have no way to trim/dispose of these, and must wait to hear from my reliable landscape crew. They are currently inundated with chain saw/chipping requests, so I must wait as I am a small property owner. Thousands of properties were damaged last week. Seven inches of wet snow delivered a wallop to everything in its path.

Still seeking a bit of storm recovery comfort, I decided it was time to create a new Keto/Paleo friendly winter warmer beverage. The perfect way to pause and reflect as we ready for the new year ahead.
So set those tax papers aside, and try this simple recipe.

On hand ingredients made for a quick concoction on this cold winter day…

Following a quick spin in the Vitamix, and brought to steaming on the stovetop, this is a comforting beverage that boosts the soul. This could also be a fine beverage during warmer months, spun with a few ice cubes.

Ingredients: Serves 1

8 oz. RO or spring water
1 T. organic CACAO powder (not cocoa)
2 T. MCT oil
2 T. JOI almond paste
1 t. Matcha powder (ceremonial grade from Japan)
Splash of organic heavy whipping cream
1 T. raw turbinado sugar (Fair Trade, organic), if desired

Spin all this in a blender pitcher until well blended.
Transfer liquid to a pan and heat over low heat just until steaming.
Pour into your favorite cup or mug.
Top with a sprinkle of organic cinnamon.
Enjoy!

PS: I do not received compensation for mentioning/featuring ingredients. I just like to share good product information.

2020…are we ready?

26 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by home, garden, life in dormant season, Lifestyle, sustainable lifestyle, Zen

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2020, goals, inspiration, life, New Year, poetry

Will we run like a rabbit, distracted by technology and devices?

Or will we keep our heads down…I am very familiar with this position…weeding, weeding, weeding.

Or will we pause, breathe, and gather strength for another year of creativity. This summer view is one road over from my home and keeps me grounded.

My 2020 goals will be patience, compassion, and more patience. Have you set goals for the New Year?

Please share your thoughts on 2020 in the comments section.

In closing I share these thoughts:

What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
~Crowfoot

Kudos, followers

19 Sunday Mar 2017

Posted by home, garden, life in dormant season, farmer's market, healthy food, Lifestyle, March, spring, suggested reading, sustainable lifestyle, Virginia, winter

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Charlottesville, farmers markets, inspiration, suggested reading

I see from my stats that my followers are reading through the thing about challenge…great! Remember to click “older posts” too as there are about a dozen thing posts…

Now that we are on the cusp of spring, I submit another blog post regarding how to shop farmer’s markets…enjoy! Mining older posts are a good thing, right?

https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/how-to-shop-at-your-local-farmers-market/

Posted early on Sunday, or it was early before the time changed…who likes time change???

This tulip is called Honeymoon. Pretty fabulous, yes?

February dreaming…

13 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by home, garden, life in Albemarle county, dormant season, environment, home construction, Lifestyle, sustainable lifestyle

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garden, home, Italy, life, Virginia

Take a few moments with your second cup of Monday morning beverage and dream of how a week or a lifetime would look/feel like here…

What do you like most about this slice of Italy? Would you have the patience to take on such a project?

As I ponder yet another house project here at Swallowtail Cottage, a visual pause permits contemplation and inspiration.

Happy February…I see signs of life in the gardens, and the wild birds continue to keep me company…77F here yesterday…much too warm. I also need to find out who is spying on me at night with their drone…I thought a plane was about to crash, then noticed the lights were hovering just above my privacy fence!

Posted February 2017