Living
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Mindful Living: The Allure of the Present
The blue of a delphinium is the most extraordinary you will find anywhere. This morning a few were just right for welcoming indoors along with some ultra-fluffy peonies. I have been watching their spikes for weeks. Proud lithe stems emerged from a cluster of dense but delicate leaves. As they strengthened, tiny buds stayed for quite a while before popping into the color for which I wait all year. In my meditation classes, I guide others on how to live vibrantly in the present, where beauty and inner wisdom often are found. My love affair with the delphiniums had me focused on more than the gorgeous blues. I felt respect…
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The Beauty of Putting Things Away
On Easter Monday, after flowing conversations and plenty of overflowing plates, I set about the task of putting things away – my favorite blue faceted glasses, drink pitchers, serving plates, and other pieces. It struck me just how much I love the day after a celebration when I have time to feel the spirit of the gathering again. I’ll recall witty comments, sweet little moments, and the love poured into each other as we enjoyed so many delicious dishes. There is a joy in putting things away. When I host holidays, so much care goes into each choice. From the menu to the flowers, I love offering the foundation for…
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Feeding the Soul | The Link Between Cooking and Mindfulness
As a child I was fascinated by the beautiful hands of the women in my family as they kneaded dough, arranged chicken in a vegetable-laden stock pot, and offered plates of their latest delicious experiment. Once I began cooking, I realized the immense pleasure to be found in sinking into each moment in the kitchen. Far from focusing on the final dishes, I have always enjoyed the transformation of ingredients each step of the way. Often I’ll light a few tapers while I cook, a pre-event to the meal I’m about to serve. Now being a teacher of meditation and cooking, the link between these two areas is a realm…
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Chocolate Peanut Butter & Jelly Cups | Halloween Inspiration
Homemade peanut butter and jelly cups are year-round sweets, but it happens to be nearing Halloween as I write this. That means I’m also sharing a playlist of my favorite seasonal songs to get you in the spirit. If there is anything better than melting chocolate for a new recipe, it’s playing some good music while you do it. Whether you celebrate spooky season or tend toward the cuter side of the holiday, now is the time to think about festive dishes to enjoy on Halloween in between popping these chocolates. I personally love this pumpkin tomato soup served in a whole pumpkin. If you already have a main dish…
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Mindful Living | Autumn
Summer heated us from without, decking us in sunlight when it wasn’t shaking the leaves in our garden with rain. Possibly you were barefoot more than usual in sand and picnic grass. Everything was alive, and it invited us to bask in what called to us most. Now that autumn is here, we are asked to light that fire from within. As the felt heat dissipates, we return to our inner spark. When the seasons change, we take what we loved and transform it to suit the new reality, this being earlier nightfall and cooler days ahead. It means learning to find beauty in the dark and discovering what warms…
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