Under a Red Roof

Swinging the Praises

June 9, 2010 in Exploring, Learning by Colleen | 2 comments

I’m feeling pretty grateful Under a Red Roof today. I received some super kind comments about yesterday’s post, was treated to an awesome early birthday lunch at Stickers, one of my favorite places, by Petra, my friend, boss, and naturopath extraordinaire. I received a super sweet card and gift subscription to Sunset Magazine from the best and most hardworking financial adviser we could ask for, Sean Stansfield (call him – he’s terrific!), and am loving our new fly through bird feeder with the help of my favorite Backyard Birdshop employee, Laura. It is clearly a day for soaking up the love and caring of the generous people in my life. Thanks everybody – your sweet ways go straight to my heart!

Add to that, the veritable cherry on the top, last night we went to our first square dance, or at least first square dance since being the age of single digits some thirty years ago, that is. As you can see from all of the smiling, it was mighty fun, too. A come, as you are affair, minutes from home, we twirled, stomped, did more than one do-si-do, held hands, laughed, whooped, and hollered more than I can ever recall. We can’t wait to put on our Western wear duds and do it again.

Many thanks to the mighty talented Rabbit Foot String Band, Paul Silveria and his fine and instructive calling, and all the friendly, happy dancers, especially Etienne and the really tall guy who kept us all on track. We’ll be seeing you!

This is It…

June 8, 2010 in Being, Inspiring, Learning, Thinking, Writing by Colleen | 5 comments

Well friends, I have what is surely the last of the peony photos this year and a broken record alert! Aren’t they pretty? Aren’t they pretty? Well they are, and these two smell quite lovely, too. Yes, yes they do. We also managed to get two dry days in a row to enjoy them, but the clouds are rolling in, and I’m pretty sure that means Mr. Rain will be up to his old tricks in no time, which is okay. The little break of sun was enough to tide me over until next time.

I have no clever segue way to what comes next. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it is that I want and how to get it. I came to a conclusion that probably should have been obvious, but wasn’t, but now that I’ve made it, I feel as though I’ve been hit over the head with a hammer in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Yet, instead of stars, I am seeing what I do with greater clarity than ever before.

I have never called myself a writer. I have always said, “I’ve written a book,” or “I’ write a blog.” In some ways, I didn’t want to pigeon-hole myself in the “I am not what I do” way because I feel I am so much more than a single word. I also didn’t think I deserved the title of Writer without being published. Yet, in this way, I believe I have been selling myself short, for who will believe I am a writer, especially one who is worthy of publication, if I don’t? It also diminished my work, made it less important. Well, dang it, it IS important, even if only to me.

So, a change. A “this is it” moment: I, Colleen Sohn, am a writer. Gosh, I got weepy typing that last sentence. I am a writer. I wrote a novel that I hope to get published one day. I write a blog. I write poems. I dream up worlds. Words dance in my mind and through my finger tips. They are alive, just like me and you.

That felt good. Thanks for reading. I love sharing my writing with you!

A New Path

June 2, 2010 in Being, Exploring, Gardening + Nature, Learning by Colleen | 2 comments

Einstein famously said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. This path and the surrounding area are a perfect example of his definition. For the first eight years in our house, the hubster and I weeded and weeded it (I even spent a few weeks digging up ALL of the weeds, only to have the majority return the next year – heartbreaker), planted grass seed, watered, fertilized, and mowed, but got the same result. More weeds, more ugly, more mowing, and a whole lotta cursing.

Then, only after being ostensibly whacked over the head by a giant imaginary hoe, we got sane and tried something new. We planted a tree and two yellow flowering currants (friends of the birds and bees!), followed by a whopping sixty kinnikinnick plants. Slowly but surely, the area and our feelings for it began to transform. There was an increasing amount of green and shade. We no longer had to fertilize, water, or mow, leaving more time for more fruitful projects.

This included moving some pieces of stone from another spot in the garden and watching a path emerge (though it is still a little wobbly). Then there were more new ideas. The placement of stumps, the moving of hostas, and the purchase and planting of more than a dozen native plants: strawberries, huckleberries, and bitter cherry trees. No longer an eye sore, it is a pleasure to gaze upon it, as I often do now, from a perch in the bedroom. I look at it and feel grateful for the shade, the clean, cool air wafting through the window, the sweet berries I’ll eat one day, and the blessed sanity of changing one’s path.

Tags: Gardening + Nature

Zippy Chocolate Cake with Cherry Sauce

March 29, 2010 in Being, Cooking + Baking, Eating, Learning, Thinking by Colleen | 3 comments

Another, equally satisfying title to this post could be Yum, or Perfection. Indeedy. Chocolate and Cherries are hard to beat. Something else that is hard to beat is sensibility. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know how I wrestle with sugar, or, at least, how I have wrestled with it. I am bad, weak, unhealthy, (insert other appropriate adjective), for eating the stuff. I spent a lot of time on it, A LOT. Many hours that, no doubt, added up to days of my life fretting about my consumption of sugar and how I really needed to let it go and be a better, stronger person. Heavens to mergatroid was it ever taxing, and to what end? Did I ever actually stop eating sugar? Not for any extended period of time. Did I ever feel better about myself for being my own persona non grata every time I consumed it? Certainly not. It was just ugly self-flagellation.

So now, in hopes of being kinder and gentler to my whole self, not just the parts that I’ve idealized, I’m going to eat it and do my darndest not to criticize or second guess myself for it. If I so desire, I’m going to bake a cake, have a slice, and REALLY enjoy it (well, if it tastes good – I do have standards). I don’t want to halfway enjoy it while simultaneously beating myself up for not being strong enough to say no or whatever. I am laughing at myself as I type this! How silly and schizophrenic I have been. Life is meant to be enjoyed.

So, to the cake. I call it zippy because it comes together very quickly and the sauce cooks while the cake bakes, so you can eat it warm from the oven. I love that – impatience and deliciousness in one go. I can’t remember where I first saw a recipe like this, maybe the Moosewood Cookbook? It is vegan, moist, and delicious. And, since this is the kind of gal I have become, I used whole wheat flour in place of some of the all purpose. If I can make it a little healthier while still being utterly yummy, I’m going for it.

Zippy Chocolate Cake

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar (So sorry! I left this out the first time.)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup cold water or coffee

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 375. Grease an 8″ square pan. Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Combine wet ingredients. Mix wet and dry together quickly until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 25 – 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. If you use the whole wheat flour, this may take longer. It’s okay.

Serve plain or with fruit sauce (raspberry, peach, blueberry, strawberry, or plum would be good, too!). I used my recipe included with pancakes, here. It is also good frosted or sprinkled with powdered sugar, and eaten out of hand.

Enjoy!

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes

Bucket of Goodness

March 1, 2010 in Learning by Colleen | 3 comments

Meet my new favorite moisturizer. Yes, I’m serious!

I have come to believe, no matter how crazy I may seem in saying so, that simple and natural are best. I am no longer swayed by promises or pretty packaging (nothing like a gallon bucket to prove that point!) but rather common sense. Does it make sense to slather my body in heaven knows what kind of chemicals to keep my skin from aging? With coconut oil, I don’t have to wonder. This bucket of goodness contains exactly one ingredient, grown organically to protect not only the earth, but the farmers and their families bringing it to me. There are absolutely no surprises like strange colors, potentially harmful preservatives, or perfumes, save the one Mother Nature provided. So, if I accidentally get some in my mouth, I’m not left with some awful taste or an upset tummy. What’s more, I can literally eat it (and do – it’s delicious and good for you!). I wouldn’t dare do that with any conventional lotion, no way, no how. Which is kind of crazy, really.

The best part is that it really is a terrific moisturizer. It is light, rubs in easily without feeling greasy, and, because I am not actually keen on smelling like a beach all day, the scent of coconut doesn’t linger. You can’t beat the price either, $37 for a GALLON that will last me and the hubster up to two years. Unlike other conventional moisturizers, it is quite multi-purpose, too. I use it head to toe – hair (a wonderful conditioner), face, lips, body, hands, and feet. It’s pretty terrific on the hubster’s very sensitive skin, I might add – literally the only moisturizer he’s ever tried that doesn’t irritate his skin. Now that’s saying something.

If you decide to try it, you’ll find it at the supermarket (you may have to look in the health food section) with olive oils and such. It comes in a peanut butter size jar and costs about $10. Try to buy organic and unrefined, as refining heats the oil and diminishes it’s healing properties. As well, coconut oil is solid at temperatures under 74 degrees. If your house is cold, like mine, you’ll need some sort of spreader to scrape off what you need (a little goes a long way), but also know that it will get very mushy (nearly liquid but not quite) in the summer or in warm places. If you find that you really like it and want to take the gallon plunge like we did, we bought ours from the awesome Mountain Rose Herbs. I cannot praise this company enough. They have great values, a great product selection, and great customer service.