Rejuvenation...

Rejuvenate..to make young again; restore to youthful vigor, appearance, etc, to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again.

How do we do this on a daily basis in our lives? We spend many hours worrying about aging, relationships going stale, personal belonging wearing out.  Often, we take a step back and look at our lives and how we are approaching relationships and what we can do to make them better, we go to the gym, look in the mirror for wrinkles, crows feet, etc.  

This last weekend, James and I drove over to Mazama for Saturday night.  In the daily rush of life, we rarely get hours in a row, to catch up on what's been going on, share feelings, hopes and just be in the quiet of life together.  In the four hour drive, one could feel the stress melting away from our bodies as we left the fast pace of the city behind and heading to the quiet hut and field of snow that awaited us.  As the moonlight reflected on the river, we wound our way down the road, talking about the change that our lives were taking.  I am starting a new business, as we drove we talked about the goals that I have, where I want to be in three to six months and how we can support each other in getting there.  I am doing this to start my life new again, a rejuventation of a sort, wanting to give my family a new peace in which we will live.


Wesola Polana was the perfect place to begin this journey, The small, but cozy Scandanavian  hut was inspiring.  As we bathed in the flow of the fire, overlooking the moon drenched snow field outside, I was able to find a new harmonious place in life, which will lead us down a productive path.  The simple beauty of nature reminds us of the small pleasures that we all need to find happiness.  For us, we are at our most peaceful when we are in tune with the outdoors.  We awoke in the morning to the sun reflecting like diamonds off the snow.  We walked down the path to the cafe, to enjoy a meal tinged with Spanish influenced flavors.  The espresso flavored with condensed milk and rum, the mollettes heaped with a homemade hot sauce, the roasted potatoes with tumeric and chili oil, allowed to dwindle away the morning.  There was no rush to leave, no rush to get home, we were there solely to enjoy the moment and the day.


When we finally arrived home, it was with a new sense of purpose and peace.  My hope for you all is to take the moment, the day, etc.. to rejuvenate and refresh our lives in which every way you find.

Welcome to My Kitchen

Well, I figured it was finally time to start blogging about all that happens daily in my kitchen and beyond...The kitchen is the hub of our daily activity, a place where we meet, mingle and renew ourselves each day.  Whether it be to test out a new recipe, plant the seeds for the garden, sip a glass of wine or just catch up at the end of the day, this is where it all happens.  As life spreads out in many directions, the kitchen is always the place one can return to either in person or in their mind, to recall the comfort of the room.  How many of us can recall the smells and sounds of our grandmothers kitchen?  The scent of fresh bread baking in the oven, as we waited with anticipation to cut that first slice and spread the butter across the bread, watching it melt..Or the days of picking strawberries and making jam..This simpler life is what we often miss out on in these craziness of daily activities.  We often forget that those simple things are the ones that will be remembered as we and our children age...

Last week a friend and I spent three days making sausage.  Now one may wonder why would anyone take the time to do this?  It is easy to run to the store, and buy your package of bratwurst, italian or chicken sausage and bring it home to cook.  I often find that it is the process that relaxes, rejuvinates and refreshes one.  The joy of using grandma's sausage press, cranking the handle, and pulling the meat into the casings brought back a simpler time.  Yes, it a time consuming process, but I know every ingredient that is in those sausages. In addition to being able to fill up the freezer, we were able to fill our hearts at the same time.  The hours spent with that friend, laughing, sharing recipes, and tasting the sausage is time I wouldn't trade.  Because like grinding the meat, mixing in the spices and pressing the sausage, friendships grow when we spend the time...So, here in the kitchen, I grow my many relationships and watch them rise, and yes, some do fall, and grow into a lifetime of memories.