in purple--journal #35 7/18/2010

A Moment in Time Susan Rios

On my mind
Happy Birthday Katie #22

Keeping a Home

Pantry Principle area 3again...cleaning out a bedroom recently vacated by a beloved child moving into adulthood...orderliness brings me peace and joy

Deliciousness

I made a wonderful discovery. Lentil Soup with Summer Vegetables, made by combining two favorite recipes---my----it's fabulous with organic vegetables from my garden.

1c. regular lentils

1 large onion ( 1/2 chopped to cook with lentils, 1/2 thinly sliced)

1/2 t. olive oil + 1/4 c. salt

4 cloves garlic

1 Japanese eggplant ( sliced in half moons, salted for 20 min., then rinsed)

1 zucchini, chopped

1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced

2 lb. ripe tomatoes, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 t. red pepper flakes

1/4 c. minced celery leaves

1/4 c. minced parsley

1 T. fresh thyme leaves

1 c. water

1 T. tomato paste

1. Wash lentils. Place in pot with chopped onion. Cover with distilled water. Simmer for 60 min.

2. In a large skillet with a lid, heat the oil over low heat. Add onion and mushrooms. Cook 20 min. or until they begins to brown and onion is nicely caramelized.

3. Add garlic. Continue cooking for 2 min.

4. Add eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper. cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften.

5. Add tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Increase to medium and cook until the tomatoes break down and begin to form a sauce.

6.  Add water, tomato paste, celery leaves, parsley, and thyme. Reduce heat to very low simmer, continuing to cook from 10-60 min.

7. Combine lentils and vegetable sauce. This is delightful served with a big green salad and home-made sprouted whole wheat rolls. Some people will want to add salt, but I'm not eating much salt these days with the risk of stroke in our family.

Toward Real Education 

I'm delightfully  immersed in my studies---Drawing lessons, Herodotus, Anatomy and Botany Coloring Books, Dr. Christopher's video lectures, and HerbMentor.com.

Toward Rhythm and Beauty

The playbook is quite calming...I'd forgotten how nice it is to just follow my plan. I don't have to think about it or decide what to do, since I already did that, .

Bee News

lots of baby bee dances this week...we've got to get more supers on those hives.

Garden Gate

Hot wind wiped out the raspberries, but we did enjoy sitting out there this afternoon eating all the berries we could find....divine.

Biblo Fix  

Enjoying This Organic LifeThis Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader quite a bit.

Appearance

blue seersucker dress with a pink and blue apron--bare feet. My blog buddy Cocoa made the apron as a gift. It's the first apron I've owned that is not too big. 

Scripture Meditations 

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice the turtle is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:12

Praying For

This week our grandone of the week is  Quinn.  He is an easy-going, funny, little comedian. I pray for his health, safety, and happiness. I pray that his parents will be led by the Spirit in raising him. I pray that the world will be a safe place for him to grow up and  that children everywhere will be as blessed with the magical childhood I wish for him.

What's Coming

Nearly finished with my two major projects. Tax lessons started again. Wrapping up youth mentoring.
 

Simple Pleasure 

...sitting out under the covered patio in a thunder storm...the smell of rain in the desert...working in the garden with Joseph...

Commitment to Loveliness

Deep cleaning a downstairs bedroom to ready it as a guest room with pretty linens handed down from Grandma. I think it will be beautiful and cozy.

Images From My Life

We drove to Phoenix for my mother's birthday. Grandma hosted another hen party at Mom's favorite Mexican restaurant. I wish I could have seen everyone, but we were only in town long enough for Mom's party and to get Joseph's parents to sign some documents. Then we zoomed on home.  In September we plan to visit for several days and see the whole clan. All these ladies are my aunties, mom, grandma, and a cousin. That's me in purple.