My New Bathroom

It was 14 years in the pleading and Renee finished it last March

Rebecca Thompson did the painting, for more of her work check out this video

http://youtu.be/y_qz9v_aLs0

My favorite combination is Bergamot and Clary Sage, 

It makes me feel so grounded yet ethereal at the same time

 Thanks for sharing, enjoy your day

Kyra

Don't Postpone Joy

"Don't postpone Joy"

I heard this said in a movie the other night and then read it on a bumper

sticker this morning.

  Message received.

I have been taught to postpone joy by the best of them.

My Mother was a pro at it. 

 Piles of beautiful linens, never used

the "good" china that saw the light of day every 5 years,

sterling silver flatware all wrapped in gray cloth, that

only came out at Christmas or Easter 

You know the drill.

I have broken many of the molds,

 I even broke out 

the sterling silver last year, unwrapped it, and use

it as our every day cutlery.  This was RADICAL

and I LOVE my decision.  Whoever gets it next will enjoy it

with a lovely brushed nickel finish.

I still catch myself though, holding off joy as

some sort of foreplay, only to end up with no

satisfaction in the end because I wait too long.

Like my making myself do chores before I allow myself in my sewing

room and find the day taken with the chores and no sewing.

Beginning last week, two hours of sewing first, then the chores, no arguments

And on Sunday, I finished this simple little dress I made with some Kaffe Fassett

shot cotton in a lovely raspberry.  That is me in the mirror modeling it for you.

I wasn't going to allow myself to wear it yet because I had this thought that I needed to "save" it.

Just that thought had me headed straight for the closet to put it on.

And I felt great in it all day!  

No postponing here  - in fact I went to a wine show in my

new little dress this afternoon

 and decided to taste the expensive stuff first at every table.

HA! I love life.

Now, this kitchen has been a postponement of joy, just 

waiting for all the parts and pieces to come together.

But, the counters come tomorrow and the tilers on Monday and

I should have some finished pictures for you next week.

I can't wait, it is really looking divine.

Go, have some fun!

Kyra

My Pancake Recipe and a Wonderful Day

How cool is this?

  I advertise a local breakfast feast and 110 people show up!!

It was almost surreal.  I have been spending so much time

at Lily's, all full of quiet and reflection and presto, within

hours it was filled to the brim with joyous people,

the wonderful restaurant sound of clinking plates and

cups, laughter and really good food

At one point I had to just smile and rejoice 

Whatever I do next at Lily's I am committed to no GMO's and

Saturday's blueberry pancake and syrup extravaganza was the kick off.

Everything except the strawberries and flour was sourced locally,

organic and easily available.

Friends volunteered to help and my "kids" came back to hustle the dishes  

I cannot even begin to express

my gratitude, to all of them and to my community for such a

wonderful day

 I will admit that I forget how stressful the half an hour before

an event can be, while you are trying to get everyone going and

finish all the last minute things.  I was amazed how quickly my zen

attitude flew out the open window.  Especially when Renee was

telling me we had a line and I was still trying to get pancakes out

The first platter was filled at what I thought was well after 8 am 

until Jon must have seen my panic and told me it was only 7:50!

What the hell!!

Let the laughter begin!

And don't take the syrup for granted.

 This was a tough year for it and

we are so fortunate Carding Brook Farm makes us a priority

 Local Blueberries, 44 North Coffee, Claudette's crepes,

Old Ackley Farm eggs,

seriously, my cup runneth over

And to give back I've decided to share my pancake recipe - something

people have asked me for for years

Cheers!

Lily's Pancakes

This is for a small batch, probably 4 pancakes, double or triple it as you need to

2 T melted butter

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

Whisk to combine

3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

Whisk to combine

Stir the dry into the wet and blend until all is moistened, but a few lumps left is 

preferable, don't over mix

Ladle onto a hot griddle that has been lightly oiled

Add blueberries, or whatever your heart desires

Enjoy!

Kyra

Surround Yourself with Kindness and Creativity

Don't you love how everything in the ground just knows

what to do in the spring? 

 Push up,  bust out,  drink it in,  be present

and move forward.

There are no questions, no doubts, just an innate desire to be alive.

Very inspiring.

 Most of my seeds have sprouted, just waiting on the parsley and spearmint to

decide to join us.  Also, a tray of sungold tomato seeds were inadvertantely left up

on the oven and the soil dried out.  I've re-moistened the little cupcakes and

hope they haven't been so shocked by my neglect that they 

still want to "see the light" 

Here is my little light rig, taught to me by some of the best

"growers" on the island.  It's worked like a charm over the years.

No worries, just believe - and spend some time just goofing around,

 that is my mantra for today

 I'm off to make baked beans and start setting up for Saturdays' festivities

You all have a wonderful day

Kyra

A Foodie kind of Day

I drove it all over the coast today, gathering bacon and buttermilk in Warren (2hours) for

Saturday's blueberry pancake breakfast 

Raw goat's milk and sweet potatoes at the Belfast Coop

Stopped for a delicious lunch of spring greens, olives and carrot salad in a

curry oil vinaigrette at Chase's

Then, on the way home I stopped at Old Ackley Farm to buy eggs 

and discovered fresh dug parsnips and wintered over kale for sale - nice!

A quick stop to pick up some greek style yogurt at Yellow Birch Farm

and I arrived home, spent and hungry.

Just when I thought I'd die if I had to eat another

head of California broccoli, the blessed local spring earth is offering up its goodness.

I rough chopped the last of the Cippoline onions from winter that haven't sprouted - how come I

can't grow an onion outside to save my life, but they sprout all green and beautiful in 

my basement?- And put them in a hot pan with some olive oil to brown

I peeled and diced the parsnips, tossed them in olive oil and roasted them in

a 425 degree oven until dark gold, tender and sweet as candy

When the onions were beginning to caramelize, I added some chicken sausage, continued

browning and then added some of the kale, cooked it just until it wilted, threw in some

open red wine and a bit of dijon mustard, some salt and rosemary and gave it a few stirs.

Then I added the roasted parsnips and a dash of ume vinegar.

Absolutely delicious.

Here's to winter's thaw and divine spring food inspirations

Enjoy!

Kyra

A Joyous Feeling and a Recipe

I am consumed today with this child like excitement about life.

Maybe its the sunshine, or the fact that my seeds have sprouted!

or maybe its because I am starting to realize I have the summer off
 from the cafe.

Maybe the result of me spending ALL DAY in my sewing room yesterday - yay!

  Maybe it's the lumber coming for some raised beds that

Renee will help me build, so I actually have somewhere to plant

all the tomato seeds I started

Maybe it's the pancake breakfast this Saturday which brings me

a chance to host many of you and eat lots of fresh syrup

Maybe I am just one very fortunate girl and SO grateful for my life

A line in my daily affirmation today is "you are here with yourself"

well, today I think I will make myself good company!

Last night I made these grilled Portabello Mushroom Sandwiches with avocado, 

tomato and miso cashew spread for dinner.

They are uber simple and so delicious.

The cashew spread recipe comes from Toni Fiore who hosts a vegetarian

cooking show on PBS on Saturday afternoons

Cashew Spread or dressing:

Place 1-2 cloves garlic, 2 tsp olive oil, 1/3 cup cashew butter,

  2 T white or red miso and 2 T water, in the bowl of a food processor

 Process until mixture is smooth and creamy, adding more water

to reach your desired consistency

I left it the consistency of mayonnaise.

Before I made the spread, I drizzled 6 Portabello mushrooms with

a simple oil and vinegar marinade and let them sit while the coals heated

in the grill and I made my Chebe rolls.

Grill the mushrooms with the lid on, about 5-7minutes per side, 

until tender and charred.

Build your sandwiches with the spread, the mushroom, some sliced tomato, lots

of fresh avocado and crisp lettuce.  A whole meal in one package!  I had two

Enjoy your Monday

Kyra

Some La La Log Cabin Quilts, almost finished

 For a month or so now I have been meeting once a week with some

novice quilters who took Alewives Girl's  La La Log Cabin Quilt Workshop in

January,  to teach them how to put their tops together into a quilt

They have been excited and very diligent.

Just look at these beauties!!

Talk about getting your mojo going

Oddly enough, the one complaint I have with myself during

this year of pause is that I haven't been in my quilting room near enough.

There always seems to be so much else to do...

Seriously, this needs to stop.

Why is it so hard to make time for my creative passion?

Each time I am with these ladies they remind me how important it is

to feed these needs.

One more thing:

I found these comments on the Lily's Cafe Facebook page the other day and was

so pleasantly surprised.  They are talking about my first cafe in Cincinnati, and that

was over 16 years ago.

It reminds me to tread thoughtfully, we really do leave footprints

"Kyra used to own the Production Line in Oakley (Cincinnati Ohio). It was, hands down, consistently the best restaurant ever. Eclectic, fresh, local, fantastic. Every time I drive past, I miss them. I keep plotting a way to plan a Maine vacation that will include at least one stop at Lily's."

about 3 months ago

• • 
    
    

     "Not much of a plot. We're all ready to go. I miss the production line too you know."
    
    
    

                                                    Have a wonderful weekend  and thank you for all the kindness

    
    

                                                Kyra