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Year Four, Day 262: Zucchini Stew in the Crockpot and Balance in My Life!



Good Morning Friends!

Our home is quiet this morning. My granddaughter is at "farm school", an amazing preschool my daughter discovered that takes place on a farm!  My granddaughter is in heaven. When she met the teacher, she said her name and then, "I like horses!"

The teacher smiled and said, "You came to the right place!"

I can breathe easier knowing she is happy, learning and getting some fresh air and play time with other children!  

So suddenly I have more time in my life. And I intend to make the most of it! I hooped, I vacuumed, I washed dishes and now I am sitting down blogging! For breakfast I had leftover kale-chickpea-lentil curry on brown rice. And in the slow cooker I am making zucchini stew with sausage.

I love making stews in the crockpot, especially in the fall! 

And I am feeling more motivated to shed this tire around my waist that hasn't budged in so long.  Looking at my diet, I have been eating too much processed food, carbs, meat and sugar.

So I dug out my favorite cookbook: Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast & Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes by Isa Chandra Moskowitz.  I have made nearly every recipe in her book.  Excruciatingly yummy!


I'm not going vegan. I'm not going anything in particular. Except trying to be healthier and more balanced.  And I frankly always feel better when I eat mostly plant based foods and stay away from from sugar, fast food and junk food. 

Don't we all?

I adapted both my curry and my stew from Isa's book.  The curry is amazing.  And the zucchini stew is looking lovely. I wish I could say the aroma is divine. But I still have no sense of smell. It's been several years now, so no need to worry about my having the Rona!

I think I am going to go for a walk in the park now. And then I will spend the next few hours tidying up my room and piano teaching space.  I can work so much better when things are organized. I especially like a tidy work space.  But hey, maybe I'll tackle the rest of my room while I'm at it!

I was thinking about the gym, lunch out and perhaps Starbucks with a book with my free time. But I'm so glad that I overrode my hedonistic self. 

My sensible Zma self seems to be dominating these days.  And it makes for a happier household!

And although my life is more routine now, without much drama or excitement, I am starting to appreciate being more balanced and content.

The balance between work and play has always been a driving force in my life. If I play, or relax too much I feel guilty. If I work and stress too much, I feel tense and irritable.

Sometimes the sayings from our grandparents hold the most wisdom:

"First you work and then you play". 

That is a good motto for life! 

So back to work I go!

I wish you a day of balance and joy.

I leave you with today's hoop video Day 266!

Talk to you tomorrow.


Love,


Zita












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