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~ For people who are passionate about respecting the earth, walking in nature, observing wildlife, local diet, making do, repurposing, organic gardening, foraging for wild plants and fungi, natural health, scrumptious healthy cooking, renovations, DIY, crafting, raising children simply and mindfully, taking time for stillness, and living in harmony with the seasons.

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Tag Archives: friendship

a delightful surprise!

26 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Delena Rose in handmade

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

art, friend, friendship, gift, hand painted, mail, oil painting, Omar, package, painting, unexpected surprise

A week and a half ago I received notice from the post office that I had a package waiting to be picked up. I was a bit puzzled as I had not ordered anything recently, but then remembered a mysterious email I had received from a long-distance friend asking for my mailing address but not telling me what he was sending. Needless to say, I was very, very curious!

The package arrived just as I was leaving for Calgary to catch a plane south to Yuma, Arizona. I picked it up but was not able to open it until I arrived in Calgary, three hours later, as it was well-wrapped and I did not have anything with me that was sharp enough to break through the tape. When I finally, finally was able to open the package I laughed out loud in delight! Inside was something so unexpected and so beautiful… It was a PAINTING!!! And not just any picture… It was a picture of ME!


When I wrote to thank my friend, Omar, he told me that he had only just started painting this past Christmas! (Can you believe it?) He had liked the post and photographs (particularly the one below) last fall on the hike to the teahouse, having visited the same place with his wife, Kay. I was quite amazed (and inspired) at his talent and asked if I could share the painting here on the blog. It was such a lovely, thoughtful surprise… I just couldn’t keep it to myself! I cannot wait to have it framed and then choose a special place in the cabin to hang it… This painting will always take me back to that lovely day hiking last fall, as well as that fun weekend I once spent at Omar and Key’s cabin in northern Saskatchewan many years ago. Thank you so much, Omar! I hope to see more of your work in the near future!


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an afternoon with Buddha…

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Delena Rose in Lucy, play

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Buddha, dogs, dogs playing, friends, friendship, Lucy, play, rescue dogs, visit

Lucy has a special friend named Buddha. He’s my wonderful friend, Louise’s dog and he is also a ‘rescue dog’. He’s been to the cabin once and I was happy to see that Lucy got along very well with him! Remember when I first got Lucy and she was still shy and aggressive with other dogs and some people? It’s so wonderful to see how far she has come in her social skills since then!

Since Buddha’s visit, I’ve been teasing Lucy about her ‘boyfriend’: he’s tall, dark and handsome; loves the outdoors; gentle, playful, patient and easygoing… the perfect ‘guy’ for such an energetic four-legged redhead!

Today, we went to Buddha’s place in Leduc. Louise and I had a nice visit and Lucy and Buddha had a play date out back.

It was a very windy day but the dogs didn’t seem to mind! They played, rested, barked at the neighbor’s puppy and enjoyed one another’s company. This is my favorite picture of Buddha. It was a lovely afternoon of spending time connecting with friends!

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frog & toad: honoring my mentors

19 Wednesday Oct 2011

Posted by Delena Rose in read

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Arnold Lobel, children's books, favorite books, friends, friendship, frog, Frog and Toad, toad

One morning Toad sat in bed.

“I have many things to do,” he said. “I will write them all down on a list so that I can remember them.”

Toad wrote on a piece of paper: A List of Things To Do Today.

Then he wrote: Wake Up.

“I have done that,” said Toad, and he crossed out: Wake Up.

While tidying the cabin today I came across my Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad have been heros of mine since I first discovered them while working at Chapters bookstore about ten years ago. I collected all four volumes, read them to young friends whenever I can, and often use their stories when teaching young children.

I love Frog and Toad because they have so many hobbies and interests that are similar to my own. I am always impressed at how they have wonderful adventures while remaining calm, cultured and enjoying a sophisticated life in nature.

They are fellow bookworms, reading while they fish…

…reading together in tree houses…

…and reading to each other.

They write lists, stories, letters and poetry…

They creat art…

…and play the piano…

… and dream of being in the theatre.

They rake leaves in Autumn…

…and tend to their gardens with singing, poetry and violin playing.

They take time to enjoy the finer things in life, like good conversation and a glass of wine by the fireside…

 … and they drink copious pots of hot tea.

Frog and Toad were caught in the rain. They ran to Frog’s house.

“I am all wet,” said Toad.

“Have some tea and cake,” said Frog. “The rain will stop. If you stand near the stove, your clothes will soon be dry. I will tell you a story while we are waiting,” said Frog.

“Oh good,” said Toad…

Frog and Toad taught me to always carry a book wherever I go; to be kind to all of the animals in the forest; to take time for fires and tea and freshly baked cakes and cookies; to value poetry, art, music, warm quilts in winter and tweed suit jackets; to give myself permission to say, “BLAH!!!” whenever appropriate… and to celebrate true friendship when found. And so I raise my own glass of wine as sit by this fireside in a toast to my two heros, mentors and imaginary companions…

Cheers!

Resources:

Lobel, A. (1970). Frog and Toad Are Friends. HarperCollins Publishers: New York

(1971). Frog and Toad Together. HarperCollins Publishers: New York

(1976). Frog and Toad All Year. HarperCollins Publishers: New York

(1979). Days With Frog and Toad. HarperCollins Publishers: New York

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tiffiny’s burritos

18 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by Delena Rose in breads, cheese, cook, Mexican

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

burritos, cheddar cheese, cook, friendship, homemade tortillas, jalapeno, Mexican food, pinto beans, salsa, tortillas

This recipe brings back so many hilarious memories of the time I spent with my dear friend, Tiffiny, back when we both lived in Inuvik. I would need a whole book to describe the crazy adventures we had together! Tiffiny has Mexican blood running through her veins, something just that just goes without saying when you see the amount of jalapenos she can eat in one sitting! This recipe is a staple in Tiffiny’s home and after tasting her amazing burritos a few times I now cannot go more than a few months without making a big batch of these myself. She makes everything from scratch: the tortillas, the salsa, even the beans have been soaking overnight and slow-cooked over the stove making the entire house smell like good cooking. Of course, mine never taste as good as hers for some reason… Isn’t it funny how certain foods bring back certain memories? Whenever I make these (and eat them), I always think of Tiffiny… standing at the counter in her colorful kitchen rolling her tortillas into perfect rounds… Her hands are covered with flour… and she is singing a soulful country tune…

Tiffiny’s Burrito’s

The Beans:

Measure a desired amount of pinto beans (depending on how many people you are cooking for (i.e. 1-2 cups) and soak overnight. Next day, rinse the beans and place in a pot with enough water to cover. Add a pinch or two of salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for a few hours. When the beans are soft, mash them with potato masher. Season with salt to taste.

The Salsa:

6 medium tomatoes

4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

1 Spanish (or red) onion

1 large jalapeno chili (or to taste)

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients by hand. Warm in a sauce pan before serving in small bowls with little spoons. Spoon a little of the warmed salsa onto burrito just before taking a bite. (This keeps the burrito from getting soggy.) Note: you can also add chopped cucumber, parsley, a good squeeze of fresh lime juice, even a little chopped mango to the salsa if desired.

The Tortillas:

Even though it is easier to buy tortillas, once you taste homemade there is just no going back. I tried once and they were so disappointing! Yes, these are more work but they are so delicious! I like to put my guests to work grilling the tortillas while I roll them out.

3 cups unbleached flour

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable shortening (or butter), chilled

1 cup or so of warm water

In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the shortening and process in short bursts until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add the water in a steady stream and process until the dough just comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 or 5 minutes.

Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces, then divide each of these into 4 more equal pieces, forming them into balls. Cover the balls with a damp towel and allow them to rest for at least 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a flat tortilla round, about 8 inches in diameter. Cook each round on medium heat, in a large cast iron skillet, until lightly speckled brown and small bubbles appear on top. Turn and cook the other side. Place on a plate in a warmed over and cover with a dry towel to keep from drying out.  (Note: this tortilla recipe is from my John Ash Cookbook From Earth to Table).

Putting Everything Together:

1/2 head lettuce, shredded

6 tomatoes, chopped

8 oz aged cheddar, grated (Buy the best quality cheese for this recipe. It makes a difference!)

Optional: 1 package of lean ground beef, cooked until brown and seasoned with salt, pepper, and chili pepper.

Place everything in serving bowls and allow your guests to build their own burritos. Give each guest their own cup of salsa on the side (with a small spoon). Serve with an ice cold glass of beer… Enjoy!

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calling all wild women…

06 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Delena Rose in more about us, wild women

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, friendship, wild women, women who run with wolves

I had a dear friend come to spend the day here at the cabin. It was wonderful spending time with another woman with whom I connect with. We hadn’t been in touch for years until a chance meeting at a hardware store recently brought us back in contact. Today we talked, got all caught up on the last few years of our lives, cooked together, looked at her recent wedding photos, hiked with Lucy on the trails, and sat on the deck wrapped in blankets, sipping hot tea while watching the moon rise.

There have been so many changes in my life recently and I found it such a comfort to share all of my stories with a kind and kindred female spirit. Just these past two weeks, I have spent the day with two other female friends who also deeply nourished my spirit. To my dear friends, M, F & S, and for all of you other wild women out there, (I know you’re out there!) I dedicate this quote to you:

…And then there are the cravings.. Oh, la! A woman may crave to be near water, or be belly down, her face in the earth, smelling the wild smell. She might have to drive into the wind. She may have to plant something, pull things out of the ground or put them into the ground. She may have to knead and bake, rapt in dough up to her elbows.

She may have to trek into the hills, leaping from rock to rock trying out her voice against the mountain. She may need hours of starry nights where the stars are like face powder spilt on a black marble floor. She may feel she will die if she doesn’t dance naked in a thunderstorm, sit in perfect silence, return home ink-stained, paint-stained, tear-stained, moon-stained.

A new self  is on the way. Our inner lives, as we have known them, are about to change…

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women Who Run With The Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype)

Good night, wild women…

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