Skip to main content

Year Four, Day 227: Aloo Bonda, Cilantro Mint Chutney and a Blue Christmas


Oy, I didn't get up early enough to hoop yet again! My granddaughter has been getting up super early, lately and has not be sleeping well at night. I am going to set the alarm earlier tomorrow. Must hoop!

Luckily I went to the gym last night after the "Blue Christmas" service I played.

It was a lovely service. I prayed for my son and family the whole time. And at the end, when the choir director played a video of the re-enacted birth of  Jesus, with Josh Groba

n singing "O Holy Night" in the background, I felt hot tears streaming down my face. I tried to control them, since my tears are generally acidic.  Especially since I had one more piece to play on the piano. But it was no use.

After the video, I wiped my face and stood to hold hands with the small group as we prayed the Lord's prayer. By the time the pastor offered the benediction, I had myself under control.  I played my last piece while people were trickling out.

The Blue Christmas service is intended for people that are grieving some type of  loss over he holidays and need space away from all the "Ho-Ho-Hoing".

It was very healing for me, even though I was the church musician.

After service, I walked to the gym I belong to. That's been my new routine, especially since this is the month of many church services. It is a good routine. I usually spend time on the treadmill or stationary bike while catching up on the news, do a few weights and then an enormous amount of stretching.

Planet Fitness has a nice room designated for stretching with many  mats and the coolest contraption that I had never seen elsewhere. It looked like a jungle gym out of  "Mad Max Thunderdome".

I stretched myself every which way but loose.

Sorry for all the movie analogies. I just spoke to my son. He and his cell mate share the cost of renting movies on the inmate tablet. His cell mate sounds like a cool dude. I can hear in my son's voice that he is doing well. Coffee Creek is not the Hilton, but apparently the food is better than Inverness, and he is able to watch movies with his cellmate and read books when they are on lockdown, which is about 21 hours a day.

When they are allowed out, he can go out in the "yard" for fresh air, walk around, work out with the chin up bar, and grab another book.

I sent him two books from Amazon this week. He hasn't gotten them yet, but I know they have to go through the mailroom and be inspected.

He has been in Coffee Creek two weeks now.

This will be my first Blue Christmas without my son. But he is doing positive work for his future, and that of his family.  Perhaps it is a Baby Blue Christmas. Not dark, like navy blue.  We will survive.

I have not been big on the commercial aspect of Christmas ever.  This year I am actually happy to be busy doing Christmas music at a church.  And since I am more strapped for funds than usual, I am knitting presents for all my family members.

I also am still quite serious about my plant focused diet. This week I am making homemade Indian food, which consists of many lovely vegetarian dishes. I made homemade cilantro mint chutney this morning. It was gone in about 30 minutes. My daughter could not stop eating it. I also made fried "aloo bonda" which are mashed potatoes filled with onions, spinach and spices. I added bacon for the rest of the family. Then I coated them in gluten free panko crumbs and fried.  They were heavenly with the cilantro mint chutney. My daughter ordered some grocery to be delivered. I made sure she put mint and cilantro on her list.

Tonight I plan on making rice paper samosas.

I am still practicing intermittent fasting. I haven't lost anymore weight on the plant based regimen, but my head feels clearer.

On that note, I need to head out.

Happy Friday!

Love,

Zita




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 347: My Big Fat Greek Salad!!

I have perfected the art of making a Greek salad!  I have made two huge bowls in the last week. My kinds rave. Essentially the secret is f vegetables , good feta cheese, Greek olives and a homemade dressing made with light, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar,  and oregano. Here is my recipe: MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD Serves 4 hungry adults 4 cups greens (I used a "spring mix" from Fred Meyer) 2 cucumbers 6 roma tomatoes one small red onion 1 cup cubed feta cheese 1 cup Greek olives (pitted) Get out a big bowl. Peel a clove of garlic, cut in half and rub it over the interior of the bowl.  Wash the lettuce if it is not prewashed and packaged like mine was.  Dry the leaves, and tear into bite sized pieces. Throw into the big bowl. Note: Romaine lettuce is good to include in the mix, because it is hearty. Peel the cucumbers and dice. Add to bowl. Cut the roma tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds (otherwise they make th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 307: Chasing Away The Gloomy Weather...with Music and a Smile! :)

It seems to me that most of the city is depressed, tired and sick. I still have my low grade snuffly nose, along with sneezing, and itching eyes.  Low energy. It is nice to know I am not the only one. Misery loves company, don't you know! Even through the gloom, I had an enjoyable day.  I told myself several times that I really am a lucky woman. My kids are grown, I'm going to be a GRANDMA, and I love my work. My church job is a nice secure little job and it seems I am quite needed there.  I am still learning the ropes. But I am enjoying it. Meeting new people. And best of all, I have only a 1 1/2 minute commute (by foot!). I have a cozy little room in a household full of wonderful laid back people.  People who love animals and music. But best of all, my afternoons are filled with music. I basically get on the bus and travel about town, sitting at pianos, visiting with students, who are like my family. We talk. They play the piano for me. I offer pointe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Three, Day 110: I Like Change, But How Do I Help the Suffering?

I woke up in a bit of a panic this morning. I had planned on getting to the track by 6:30 a.m., because I thought today was the first day of school. You see, the public is not allowed to use the track when school is in session. Understandably so. But alas, I overslept! I still headed out with my hoop, hoping it was before school hours at 7:30 a.m. And I breathed a sigh of relief. The school looked vacant. And only one solitary jogger with her solitary dog was present. I got busy in case the kids were due to arrive. Got a nice hoop workout in. No sign of children as I walked back to the house. So I did what I should have done in advance. I consulted Google. And most happy am I - North Clackamas School District does not start back to school until September 6th! Portland Public Schools start today. But the elementary school next door to the track lists "student hours" as 7:45 - 2:00 p.m. So I really am going to have to get an earlier start next week. I am aiming...
Post a Comment
Read more