Puppa Child Magic.

Last night was a rough night, there's no doubt, a very growing/teething/upset girl all night. She was only content and lulled back to sleep when walked around by sleepy Mumma and Puppa. Hard on everyone for sure, but out of these difficult moments I saw one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. My dear husband, and my beautiful girl linked as one nurturing being. The way his back arched, and legs bent to support her. The way her body was limp, melting into the form of her father, long legs hanging, head heavy, shoulders relaxed. Their bodies curved and supported one another beautifully as Raf bent and swayed under her weight. Such beauty in this exhausting moment.

On Tour With The Girl

Up and down the coast of Maine. Popping in and out of stores. Trying on shoes. Being patient while Mom buys new underpants, and bulk grains, and coffee. Sitting in a diner booth eating a scone together. Making new friends at the Ellsworth Library. Crying in the car. Laughing as our knees get tickled. Holding hands on the sidewalks of Belfast. Running around in circles with friends in Calais. Running in the sprinkler in Brunswick. Running through the orchard in Freeport. Sticking out tongues, naming body parts and poking belly buttons. Cuddling and missing Puppa. Calling Puppa, Mumma. Kissing and hugging and animal that will let us. Being companions and friends and Mother and Daughter.

Love that girl of mine.

Catering Part 3

So I've had my third catering gig of the Summer, this one a 2-day retreat for CCLC staff and board. Lunch 2 days. Half local/half more affordable. One-third veg, Two-thirds meat. It felt really easy to organize these lunches. I was immediately able to jot down meal ideas, establish costs and factor in my hours. I felt official, and it felt great. I loved it, crafting my time, and knowing how long it would take me. I loved the idea of nourishing friends and strangers with delicious food in the middle of their day, and knowing it would be a treat for them! I felt knowledgeable, I felt like I was helping out, and I felt like I was doing something that made a lot of sense to me.

Every time I do business providing food service I feel like I'm living my calling, a thought that scares me a bit. Raf and I always discuss a day in which we run a restaurant, and then we immediately laugh off the idea, saying "if we were ever silly enough to go into business, in Eastport running food service! That's crazy!" However more and more the idea becomes unlaughable because this store is one that I want, it's a place I can see myself inhabiting and it's a place in which I can see many people from the community spending their time. And before I get too wrapped up in any one idea I remind myself to... Inhale, Exhale, see what the future brings!

Life in Image

Eat Local Eastport Lady with her wares!
Miss. C, Miss. Independent.
Family faces up at Shackford Head.
I feel much safer with these goodies put away in my basement.
The Green Juice Fast.

How About Some Garlic-Ginger Green Beans?

Make sure you make some grain (rice or millet) to go along with this recipe, because you will want something to soak up the yummy sauce.

Prep your veggies:
roughly mince 2-3 cloves of garlic
grate or rough chop 1-2 inch chunk of ginger
cut stem ends off 1 pound of green beans

In saucepan on Medium-High Heat:
generously coat the bottom of the pan with a think layer of canola, olive or sesame oil,
add a triple glug of tamari or soy sauce,
then a healthy splash of rice wine or apple cider vinegar,
also add a tablespoon of honey or sugar,
add your garlic and ginger and allow to simmer 1 minute.

Turn the Heat down to Medium:
Now add the raw prepped green beans, plus a 1/4 cup of water.
Stir to coat veggies in sauce.
Allow to steam, covered until beans are tender.
Stir once more, if sauce seems too thin allow to simmer, uncovered an additional 1-2 minutes.

Serve, enjoy, eat the chunks of garlic and ginger. YUM!

Growth Spurts.

I'm starting to pull the 18 month clothes out of the dresser in the guest room. I'm checking for fall coats and hats in the warm clothes drawer too. The girl is getting long! She is so tall and smart, her comprehension rate is soaring. Questions like "where is your shoe" normally result in a shoe being found these days. Her vocabulary is becoming clearer, perhaps only to Mumma and Puppa, but she says versions of all these words now: Hi Kitty, Banana, Ball, Chicken, Baby, Yummy. There is also the mimicking, she wants to learn words and as I say words that she can imitate she repeats back to me over and over again. She is pretty incredible stuff.

Then there's my own growth spurt, less physical and more on the spiritual/emotional plane. I've been asking for a few months to come back in to myself after 2 years of my body primarily being a catalyst for Miss Ce to grow from. However with the weaning process complete I find myself syncing up with myself once again, especially with the help of my most recent 4 day green juice fast. My body feels like my own and best of all my spirit feels in my body again. I feel so blessed and thankful for the role of mother. I love giving birth and breastfeeding and being pregnant and I also love not doing all of those things. I'm adjusting to the amazement of what this female body can do, and I'm regaining my strength, one breath at a time.

I think it's been about 3 years now.

That's right, about 3 years ago I met Mr. Rafi Eric Hopkins. We were at a big party and met in passing, it would be another month and half until we really noticed each other. Now I notice him everyday. I would say we're even quite wrapped up in one another. I think he's really great and I've been considering what it is I like about him so much...

That he can just pick-up concrete work and do it so well.
When he holds our daughter I see his heart swell. (unintentional rhyme)
He always always takes the trash out, takes the compost out and feeds the chickens.
I see him so happy to have friends and family in our home.
He feels he could always do more to care for said friends and family.
That he loves his new beer brewing hobby so much and is motivated to do more!
He washes all the laundry and never gets upset with me for taking a week to put it away.
We hold hands at dinner every night., and then enjoy eating together so very much!

What a partner, isn't Rafi the best!?!