These Days

The truth is, there haven't been many words written or pictures taken. I think about them both daily, near hourly really, but these days thinking is as far as I get. My need to share ebbs and flows and sometimes (like right now) I wonder what it is exactly I'm doing with all this sharing. Sometimes it feels silly and presumptuous to show you what I'm up to...the things I'm reading, what I'm eating, projects I've got going, the thoughts circulating through my brain. When I stop hanging out here though, I miss it. Mostly I miss the conversation it sparks with my sister in the comments or occasionally in a text or an email from friends.

My favorite blogs to read are photos paired with stream of consciousness writing. That's what I try to remind myself when I get in this shy place. Don't try to get fancy. Just write what I know. Write the stuff I like to read. So here you go...

The sun is coming up earlier and staying out later. Have you noticed? Our bedroom window faces east. I've noticed. I love the sun, crave it really, but I also love sleep. I've returned to my habit of wearing an eye mask to bed. I look ridiculous, but I sleep well.

I'm totally digging grain and bean salads lately. I do breakfast well and dinner is my forte, but lunch is hit or miss. I'm usually so hungry by the time I get to the kitchen at noon that I'm frustrated by the prep needed for a substantial lunch. Early this week I cooked wild rice, lentils, and quinoa and stuck them in the fridge. Each evening I've been making a quick salad, left it to marinate overnight in the fridge, and lunch time has proven to be my favorite meal these past few days. Lee's nutrition has benefited from my forethought as well. I've really loved each salad, but here's my favorite from the week. It's the brown rice and chickpea salad. I used red onions instead of green and a wild rice blend that actually was so plump it reminded me of wheatberries. This salad definitely improves with an overnight in the fridge.

I'm loving Theo chocolate, especially the cherry & almond bar.

And one more food related thought...how have I lived this long without Swiss Chard? Sautéed with olive oil, shallots, salt, and crushed red pepper...yes, please!

In January I challenged myself to run at least one mile every single day. I ran in ice, rain, snow, and wind...in sunlight and pre-dawn darkness. My knees groaned a bit as did my shins, but I did it and honestly, it was awesome. I've run a few days in February, and it's been hard. I've had to drag my body and my mind out and back again. I know that running every day isn't sustainable for the long term, but man, I miss the get up and go that that 31 day goal gave me.

My current project is to actually print a few of the thousands of pictures I've taken over the past couple of years, frame them, and get them up on our walls. I've been collecting interesting frames the past few weeks, and it's almost time to pick the photos to go inside them. Hopefully I'll have a collage wall to show you very soon.