When I Was Your Age...

On Tuesday Ready by 21 Mentoring hosted 20 mentors and the sophomore class

of DISHS on a trip to Isle au Haut for a day of fun, community service and 

"getting to know you"

It was wonderful and I continue to be blown away by the quality of

the community I live in.

Our youth are kind, curious and full of possibility  and our

adults are kind, curious and full of possibility

The perfect match!

As the school year winds down

- and I'm back to mowing the lawn - 

It is fun to remember all the ways we've brought older and younger together this year

 It really does enrich everyone's life, so much, to connect

 and share exactly where each of us is in the here and now.

The one thing that seems to stand out for me is that almost every

adult that has come to be with the kids has said

"When I was your age...."

The cool thing is that the end to that sentence hasn't always

been steeped in what it used to be and what they should be doing

The messages have been more like;

"I thought I could do anything"

"I thought I was invincible"

"I was so worried"

"I didn't have half the pressures you all have since social media"

"I had so much fun"

"I thought I'd never make it out"

And as I continue to mow the lawn

(not because my Dad told me to, but because I have chosen to)

 I realize that I haven't changed much since I was "that age"

The real difference is that

time and experience has given me the wisdom

 to tweak some of those early beliefs

I still believe I can do anything - that I choose to do

My sense of invincibility has turned into a commitment to a healthy lifestyle

I've learned that worrying is always an option, but truly overrated

We are all learning about social media together

and the fun that used to get me in trouble is now legal!

The biggest one for me was that feeling that I'd never get out

But I did.  and I did again.  and I did again

Our possibilities are truly endless

We just have to recognize and love that 

sweet, crazy, impulsive, passionate, stymied teenager 

inside of all of us.

Give her a big hug, thanking her for the opportunities and

forgiving her the mistakes.

Enjoy your holiday weekend and thank you for all you are

Kyra

I

Touching Base

Hi all,

I just wanted to touch base

I haven't written in a while, seemed like there wasn't anything

profound to share, but life is good, really good.

 Yesterday I went to my first Yamuna body rolling class

with some friends and then I puttered the day away.

While puttering I watched a candid You Tube of

 Eric Rupert and Mario Batali

The greatest quote was from Mario - he said,

"My heart and imagination are intertwined" 

I love that

I couldn't remember if I'd shown you the little day bed area I set up in my office - 

It's like this little nest...

Oh, and did I tell you I'm going to Junior Prom?

Ha!  

Deer Isle Stonington has this aged tradition,

the public is invited, they do a Grand March, all the

Junior's families come

I've never been...

The theme is Alice in Wonderland 

(this is a bit too appropriate for me if you know what I mean)

I continue to be infused with such energy and admiration

in my connection with the students and really look forward to seeing them

in their finest.

Speaking of which, here is the new logo for Ready by 21 Mentoring;

The artwork and layout is by our board member, Gina Podesta

Looks great doesn't it?

I have 25 wonderful new mentors trained and ready to go for next year's juniors

 and I am in awe of everyone and what you are all willing to give of yourselves

That goes for mentors and mentees both.

I brought these delicious gluten free cupcakes to a movie night

with my book club.  Instead of a book this month we watched To Kill a Mockingbird

I used the recipe for my quinoa cupcakes and then made the

frosting from Barrett's raw brownies I posted a few times back.

  The host's husband ate two 

and had no idea they were laden in avocados!

There is more, but I'll save it for next time.

I've included the cupcake recipe below.

I hope you are all well and being kind to yourselves.

Kyra

CHOCOLATE QUINOA CUPCAKES

WITH CREAMY COCOA FROSTING

CUPCAKES:

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup sweetener (I use coconut crystals)

1 1/4 cups quinoa flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 eggs, separated

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream

350 degree oven

Place butter and water in a small saucepan.

Bring to boil, remove from heat and whisk in cocoa.

Let cool to room temp.

In another bowl whisk together

 the sweetener, flour, b powder, b soda and salt

Once the cocoa mixture has cooled, whisk in

the egg yolks, vanilla and yogurt (or sour cream)

until smooth

Stir this into the flour mixture until smooth and thick.

Whisk the egg whites until frothy and thickened

and fold into the batter.

Divide into 12 lined muffin cups and cook just until

moist crumbs attach to a tooth pick inserted into the center

10-20 minutes depending on your oven.

FROSTING:

Place

 3 ripe avocados

 1/2 cup cocoa powder,

1/2 cup liquid sweetener 

( I use brown rice syrup and a bit of maple syrup)

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp vanilla

into the bowl of a food processor, 

process until smooth and creamy

Frost as desired*

*It makes enough that you can eat a third of it with

a spoon and still have enough for the cupcakes

:0)

Changing

"The best preparation for tomorrow 

is to be at your passionate best today"

I feel like things are changing for me -

both inside and out

The outside ones are easy to see, especially at Lily's

(thanks to Renee and her crew)

new, (old) newell posts and

the runner of my dreams (Field of Flowers, Dash and Albert) :

A new paint job;

No more pink bathroom!; 

I plant seeds and where there seems to be nothing-

Suddenly there is really something

It is the inside changes that are hard to describe

They seem to happen quietly over time

 until you notice them

like you notice your seedlings needing a new pot

My wonderment of life, today.

 and my desire to be present for each

delicious moment

I so hope you are enjoying your moments

Things can change so fast

And here is something else that has changed for me -

I can make a pan of these delicious raw brownies
that Barrett gave me the recipe for
and not eat them all in one day!

If you know me, that is a true feat.
But I don't want to be that person anymore.
I like being able to make a better choice.

Thank you Barrett for sharing this recipe

I would like to add that I froze them solid by mistake
and they become something else entirely - a bit orgasmic if you will  :0)

Enjoy!

Kyra

AN EVEN BETTER RAW BROWNIE

Base
2 cups walnuts or pecans
13 ounces pitted baking dates
1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
1/8 tsp orange zest (I left this out)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder

Frosting
3 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
1/2 cup raw agave nectar
 (I used a brown rice syrup with a touch of maple syrup)

In a food processor mix the nuts, salt and zest (if using)
process until finely chopped
add the dates one at a time
then add the avocado and vanilla, until smooth
Pat down into an 8" square baking pan.

Puree all frosting ingredients in the food processor
 and spread on base.
 Cover and freeze at least 3 hours.
Cut into small squares and serve cold.

Tea

I have these incredible 'aha' moments about the simplest things.

Like tea for example.

Recently I realized I could make my own!

I know, it 's a little silly, but it just never dawned on me that I didn't have

to drink what someone else put in a little sachet.

I found this cool metal tea, whatever and fill it up with

whatever, let it steep for 10 minutes and love drinking it!

I finally have that daily tea ritual I've always imagined having -

but never liked any tea enough to make it a ritual.

I've been doing loose Rooibos and adding dried rose hips

all winter for the vitamin c boost in the rose hips

and then I add licorice root or cinnamon and clove or orange peel

or whatever I feel like each morning.  

Almond milk, honey, ooh my.

Soon we'll have fresh leaves to play with too.

I've also been adding a dropper of Burdock tincture and Nettle tincture

from Avena Botanicals for a little 'getting ready

for spring' booster

I feel great.  And I'm so excited for Spring.

Adventure on dearest ones.

I hope you are very well.

Kyra

P.S. check out this recipe for Chickpea Blondies.

They are delicious. 

 I use cocoa nibs in mine instead of chocolate chips to avoid

the extra sugar.  But I've made them for teenagers with peanut butter

and chocolate chips and they loved them. 

A friend who I shared the recipe with says add the egg, it makes them even better.

Enjoy!

Woven

My parents were both first generation Americans in families

fighting their way up (and out) of Brooklyn, NY 

-That is my mom in my grandmother's arms 

and my dear Aunt Ethel standing in front of my grandfather-

I never knew what "upper middle class" even meant until

I went home for Easter with my college roommate 

I remember a beautiful old house in a suburb of Chicago,

My first glasses of champagne and aged red wine,

 classical music playing during dinner,

my first experience sleeping on cotton sheets, 

talk of semesters in Europe, leather interior in the car,

Lanz flannel nightgowns, Italian tile on the kitchen floor

antique chairs around the table...

What amazes me now, is how woven all of my

experiences are into who I am and how I live today

The best part being that the weaving doesn't end.  I get to keep changing

and growing and having more experiences

Like my very recent indulgent purchase of fine linen sheets

I needed a dust ruffle for our new bed frame

 A google search led me to Linoto, and to Jason, 

who explained their linen and its qualities. 

(incredibly sustainable by the way)

And yes,

 instead of a cruise to somewhere exotic,

 I splurged

 on two sets of linen sheets and a dust ruffle

They came today. 

It is all so beautiful I could weep.

I had bought a set from Restoration Hardware a few years ago and

it makes them look like burlap.

I am overwhelmed with gratefulness.

For the polyester I grew up with, the cotton I moved up to 

and the linen I cannot wait to jump into tonight.

Isn't life grand?

Enjoy!

Kyra

Crafty

Holy Toledo Batman!

 I find myself so grateful for my crafty side

as the forecast for tomorrow calls for flurries and 20 degrees

As I'm watching friends slowly loose their minds and

frantically booking trips to Florida

I began to look around at what I've been doing during

the "winter that seems to have no end"

I've got Mache ready to go when it warms up and

my eggplant, onions and peppers are getting a good head-start

in the basement under lights

I've sewed a whole new wardrobe (mostly in linen) and still have

 a few more fabrics, with patterns on top, ready to go

I'm crazy over Citronille (Fiddleheads has English versions of many)

 and I think I'm trying to make

everything in the book "Simple Modern Sewing"

This project really tickles me - 

I've been making my own beauty products!

      

It's just like cooking and I have most everything already here.

After reading a lot of "recipes" I used the ones on the

Wellness mama blog site as a base to come up with my own versions

The coolest thing being these Tallow lotion bars - 

Tallow, rendered beef fat, contains tons of vitamins and minerals

and is great for sensitive skin.

In just one week my winter eczema on my shins has completely healed

I have been suffering with this for 20 years!

I've put the recipe at the end of the post and am so grateful
to Colleen at Old Ackley Farm for rendering
the beef fat for me from their beautiful grass fed source

Sewing with friends on Mondays at Lily's. 

Look at this fabulous baby quilt Chris made - double sided!

                         

Yesterday,  I cut these luscious strips of color
 for a new quilt creation of my own

(while listening to House of Cards on my computer)

How decadent is that?!

Oh yeah, have I mentioned that 

I've moved everything around in our house?

And have drank a lot of bottles of wine....

Hope you are well
Especially if your forecast calls for snow tomorrow.

Enjoy!
Kyra

TALLOW LOTION BARS

2.6 ounces beef tallow (from a healthy source)
2.6 ounces shea butter
1 ounce beeswax
1 tsp. calendula oil

Combine all ingredients in a quart size glass jar
Place this jar into a small saucepan of water on the stove.
Turn burner on medium heat and bring to a low simmer.
Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth.

Pour into greased molds of your choice
I used coconut oil to grease my old corn bread muffin tin

Let cool, pop out, wrap as desired and store extras
in the refrigerator/freezer or give to friends!

Enough

I had a thought this morning that was similar to

the Seven Sisters Constellation...

you know  - that cluster of stars that you don't really see

until you stop looking at it.

My thought was wrapped around this wonderful idea

that I seem to be truly embracing about us all being one being

from there I remembered a line in some wise words I read

about celebrating someone else's success because it is your success too

this lead me to thoughts of how grateful I am for my life,

especially in its new form of not working 90 hours a week.

Grateful for the time I take to meditate and be filled

with a knowing that I am on the right path for me

and don't need to live any other way than how I choose.

I'm not missing anything, because I am enough.

Slippery vision, but it feels so good when I see it.

Here's to feeling like enough,

 and being part of one another

Kyra