A Crunchy Life - March 2021 Newsletter
Hello friends!
The March blog post is up and it is all about my third lotus: Movement. In this post I discuss my thoughts as it relates to how I fully absorbed and integrated all of the unhealthy and unhelpful aspects of fitness culture, distorted body image, and patriarchal standards of beauty into my life. And then, how I found my way to a new thinking about movement that involves listening to my body and asking it what it needs.
You can find the blog post at https://acrunchylife.com/2021/03/01/lotus-3-movement/
Here is what I am exploring this month.
What I’m reflecting upon…….
Swimming, One Day In August
It is time now, I said,
For the deepening and quieting of the spirit
among the flux of happenings.
Something had pestered me so much
I thought my heart would break.
I mean, the mechanical part.
I went down in the afternoon
to the sea
which held me, until I grew easy.
About tomorrow, who knows anything.
Except that it will be time, again,
for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.
-Mary Oliver
What I’m doing …….
Planting seeds!
The end of February and beginning of March is a time of hope for me. With the lengthening of days and the longer sunlight, my thoughts turn to preparing the garden. Sorting through my seed supplies to see what needs to be replenished affords an opportunity to daydream about warm weather and sunshine. Reading through seed catalogues and plotting out what we will grow this year reminds me of circling items in catalogues that I hoped my parents would find and then purchase the items for birthday presents. It’s a joyous time!
This past weekend was seed planting day. Tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and more. After that it will not be too long before I can direct sow the seeds for spinach, kale, and early potatoes.
What I’m reading…….
Tamed: Ten Species that Changed Our World by Alice Roberts
This is a beautiful book that that speaks to so many of my interests and passions. The ten species Roberts focuses upon are:
Dogs
Wheat
Cattle
Maize
Potatoes
Chickens
Rice
Horses
Apples
Roberts tells each species’ story through the lens of genetics, archaeology, and history. She presents answers and raises more questions to be considered. Just when I think she has presented a conclusive argument she drops a genetic tidbit that sends it all sideways. The anticipation of her conclusion is part of the enticement to keep on reading.
From the back cover:
“For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on wild plants and animals to stay alive - until they began to tame them. Combining archaeology and cutting edge genetics, Tamed tells the story of the greatest revolution in human history, revealing the fascinating origins of ten crucial domesticated species; and how they, in turn, transformed us. In a world creaking under the strain of human activity, Alice Roberts urges us to look again at our relationship with the natural world - and our huge influence upon it.”
What I’m loving…….
These days I am loving Congee for breakfast. Late February and the start of March has been rainy, damp, grey, and chilly. I find that Congee warms me and prepares me for what the day has in store for me. It is a slow process to make it so it supports me in slowing down and enjoying the moment. But one batch lasts for three or four days so it also supports efficiency for me in the morning.
Here’s my base recipe:
3/4 cup rice
8 cups water
1 teaspoon olive oil or ghee
pinch of sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
Heat olive oil in pan. Add rice and salt. Stir until rice is coated. Add water. Bring to a boil and then simmer until desired consistency is reached, approximately 45 minutes to 1.5. hours depending on the rice used.
The add-ins make it truly wonderful.
Honey
Maple Syrup
Goji Berries
Sultanas
Fruit
Nuts
Seeds
Turmeric, Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon
The list is endless, and only limited by personal taste and creativity.
What I’m looking forward to…….
St. Patrick’s Day and the Spring Equinox
I have had a conflicted relationship with St. Patrick’s Day as long as I can remember. I didn’t feel connected to the celebration and where I live it is predominantly an excuse for lots of drinking. Now, don’t get me wrong, Guinness is near and dear to my heart, but I don’t need a holiday to tell me to enjoy it.
As I have gotten older two things have happened that have shifted my perspective on St. Patrick’s Day. First, I have a friend who takes the day off from work and his whole extended family attends church together and then enjoys an after church meal together. Second, I discovered my long forgotten Irish roots. My great grandmother (1856-1931) was born in the USA to her Irish immigrant parents. Her line traces back to the 1798 Rising in Ireland and I am learning more each day about their life before then. As I have explored more of our family’s story I have felt more connected to these roots, and St. Patrick’s Day has changed for me.
This St. Patrick’s Day we are taking our own approach. Now that I have discovered this ancestral connection it is important to me that our daughter’s have a deep and rich understanding of it as well. We are not celebrating St. Patrick (who as I have read, 1. was not even Irish and 2. accomplished driving out many of the old beliefs and stories throughout Ireland; but, that’s for another discussion).
Instead we are celebrating our Irish heritage. Blessing our home and hearth. Sharing stories that have been unearthed from my family and my husband’s family. Sharing in recipes that are consistent with our ancestor's traditions. Reading the ancient stories that were prevalent prior to St. Patrick’s arrival. This will also lead into our Spring Equinox celebrations that will come just a few days later. Connecting our heritage to the equinox makes so much sense to me. I love creating new family traditions.
Love.
Karen
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