Year Two, Day 211: Ice Storm Warning: Stay Warm! Give Gloves to the Homeless! Make Borscht!

Winter storm warning is in effect. Portland is due for freezing rain and possibly snow overnight.

I will believe it when I see it. It is bitter cold outside, but the sky is a lovely blue. My daughter had the day off. So of course we went to Starbucks, shopping and Pho! She also updated my hair color. I like it. It is a little more natural.

I did love the Viking red though, but this is more suitable to my coloring.

I am heading out soon to teach. My daughter and I planned ahead in case the freezing rain really does appear tomorrow. Our home has a steep staircase leading to the front door. Even on a typical drizzly Portland day, the stairs are quite treacherous. We all have broken in the steps in many awkward bumps on our bottoms.

But I for one, do not look forward to a descent at any speed on any part of my body tomorrow in icy conditions.

It is days like these that my heart really goes out to our many homeless people. I am stocking up on gloves to hand out. Many people who are not homeless, but are the working poor, or even the uninformed, clueless and unprepared are so thankful for a pair of gloves as they sit shivering at a bus stop.

I do like spreading good cheer.

And cold days like this call for comfort food! This morning, my daughter and I chopped and diced vegetables and loaded up the crockpot with our cold weather favorite: vegetable beef beet borscht.

When my daughter was about 8 months old until she was in about first grade, she and her brother were cared for by a wonderful Russian family while I worked full time in an office.

Not only did they care for my babies like they were there own, they fed them amazing Russian food. Like borscht. I used to think borscht was a cold beet and sour cream soup. But Nadya told me it just meant "soup" in Russian. This soup is to die for. Chunks of beets, potatoes, carrots, celery and beef stew meet in a beef broth. We slow cook it all day. Near the end we add fresh dill and shredded cabbage. And top with a dollop of sour cream.

Comfort food never tasted so good. And our borscht is nearly as good as Nadyas!

And if we have to hunker down for a few days, at least we will have well fed tummies!

Happy Wednesday. Stay safe and warm!

Comments

Year Four, Day 328: Success at Last!! This is What I Do

Hello My Long Lost Friends! Or, perhaps it was I who was lost? And now I think I am beginning to find myself! Under layers of fat, and self loathing! How's that for an opening line! Or perhaps the title of a novel: Layers of Fat and Self-Loathing! Today I stepped on the scale. I am weighing myself every morning these days. I was shocked! I told my partner the scale must be broken! Yesterday I weight 186. Today 185! I have been on a strict intermittent fast for the past 10 weeks. I have officially lost 12 pounds! And the best news is I think I not only can stick to this way of eating, I am actually beginning to really enjoy it! And look how far I've come! I've been writing since May 12, 2015. Over 8 years now! I know this blog post says Year Four, Day 328, but there have been many pauses in blogging. For instance, when I am not pleased with progress or simply have no words! I was 53 when I first began blogging. I am now 61. I honestly feel better than I did 8 years

Year Four, Day 335: "Crisis Fatigue"

Hello Friends! I have missed you! I have been so utterly exhausted and downright depressed, that I couldn't summon enough energy to even lift my fingers to this computer keyboard to write. Apparently there is a mental disorder for people going through crises. Crises such as pandemics, systemic racism, political division, unemployment, police brutality, civil unrest.... It's called "crisis fatigue". When humans are presented with a threat, adrenaline is released to give us quick energy. This is called the "fight or flight syndrome". But when threats are overwhelming, and perceivably continuous, like this year, it overwhelms the system. People can feel numb, depressed, anxious and irritable. Yup. That's me. I guess I'm quite normal after all! I found an interesting article that describes crisis fatigue, especially in relation to current events. But it doesn't really address how to take care of ourselves during these unsettling times!

Year Four, Day 247: What Happened in Vegas...

Expectations can be brutal. Especially when reality dashes them against the rocky shores of our souls. How's that for an opening line? I was so excited about my recent trip to Las Vegas. I haven't travelled anywhere in so long. I do believe I have been bit by the travel bug. I want the freedom to go places I have never been, see things I have never seen and experience life as a stellar adventure! My kids are young adults with families of their own. I have my role as Zma, as Teacher Zita. But I am on a quest to find Zita. She's hidden someone deep inside. Covered in layers. Like an onion. I like the onion analogy. Notice the outermost layer of an onion - dry and papery. As you peel off layers, the inside is juicy and sweet. I have paid my dues of sacrifice, shame and self deprivation. What I want now is to embrace the life I have remaining. Have you seen the life pie chart? I don't know where I read this, but it stuck with me. Draw a circle. And then divide it i

Soul Runnings

Search This Blog